Contaminated water is the source of many human diseases. This is why it is important for people who use their tanks for drinking water to understand how to clean them. Contamination of water can be avoided with the proper precautions. Cleaning your water tank on a regular basis is important, ideally once a year. This would also prevent the overcrowding of post-tank filters. The best way to ensure a secure, clean supply of water is to provide a regularly cleaned water tank, well-maintained roofing and gutters, and adequate pre- and post-tank filtration.
Household water tanks are designed to provide healthy water for washing, gardening, and sometimes cooking and drinking. Tanks must be washed on a regular basis, but sadly, many people are unaware of how to do so. Sludge or sediment may accumulate over time, contaminating your water and causing illness.
You have a few choices when it comes to cleaning the tanks. You can clean the tank yourself with only water. You can also use a more sophisticated form, such as high-pressure water jet cleaners combined with antibacterial and disinfectant solutions. The third choice is to get the water tank cleaned by a professional. Cleaning water tanks is a service provided by a number of businesses. This could be the best choice for large tanks (over 5000 litres) or highly soiled tanks.
Chlorine is used as a cleanser in this case. Some experts recommend using HTH chlorine, which is well-known for its disinfectant properties. Chlorine is a highly toxic cleaner, so please read and follow all safety instructions carefully, including wearing suitable protective equipment. However, chlorine is not the only potentially harmful cleaner, so read the safety instructions for any chemicals you use before using or handling them, and wear proper protective clothing.
Switching off the valve that supplies water through the pipe at the top of the tank is the first step in cleaning it. If your rain collection tank does not have a valve switch, skip this stage.
After that, open the draining outlet on the tank and pump as much water as you can. Attaching a hose pipe to the drainage point is a good way to do this. This allows the flow of water to be directed to a specific spot, preventing pollution and soil damage. This will take some time, particularly if you have a large number of water tanks.
The access hatch at the top of the tank must be removed after the contents have been successfully drained. Clean the interior with pressurized water after removing the hatch to clear the sediment build-up on the walls and bottom of the tank. After the first rinse, a trusted antibacterial solution can be applied to the pressure washer to clean the interior more thoroughly.
Enable the chlorine to remain in the tank for at least 12 hours after applying the chemical. After that, the tank should be drained and then refilled with water. After half an hour, the water should be checked for residual chlorine levels. When the readings are less than 0.5 mg/l, the water is safe to drink. If the reading is higher, the tanks should be drained and refilled again, and the measuring procedure should be repeated. The process is finished until the water has reached sufficient chlorine levels and the tank has been reconnected to the pump and all other power outlets. Please seek detailed professional advice before cleaning your water tank with chlorine or any other chemical, as this is just a reference.
