How to keep drinking water tanks clean

Water tanks are an indelible source of survival in urban and suburban settings where sources of procuring fresh water are very less. If those water tanks are used especially for drinking water, it becomes even more important for us to ensure the cleanliness of the water tanks that store the water we consume. It is not just a mere technique that shows the results, the regularity with which you do it and whether you are able to initiate a culture around maintaining the hygiene of tanks in your community actually makes a change with impact. A water tank that is regularly cleaned and properly maintained with roofing and gutters combined with proper pre/post-tank filtration is the only safe way to store and maintain a supply of clean, potable water. It is a system which is closely maintained and also avoids other harmful consequences like not over-burdening post-tank filters.

Cleaning the tank has many specialised methods involved that vary with the volume of the tank and the amount of sludge accumulated. Three broad options that we list down for you are-

• If you are doing it biannually or shorter intervals you can use clean water to clean the tank.
• Use anti-bacterial solutions and disinfectants.
• Although slightly elaborate but highly effective is using high-pressure water jet cleaners.
• Seeking professional help is the best option for large-scale damage prevention. Hiring services specialised in cleaning of tanks is the best option for huge tanks above 5,000 litres capacity and also for those that are heavily soiled.

Chlorine as cleanser:

Chlorine is a good source of cleansing water. Some scientists also suggest the use of HTH chlorine because it is highly effective in disinfection. The usage of chlorine requires some understanding of it and how it is to be used because of its toxic properties. Not only that, it can be harmful to the properties of water if  its toxic nature can also harm the person using it, therefore, wearing proper protective gear and reading all the safety directions is very important. This holds true even for other chemicals generally used for cleansing water. All chemicals used for cleansing water if not used judiciously can be harmful not just to the water being treated but also the individual using it.

Switch off the valve:

Switching off the valve that supplies water through the pipe near the tank is the first step in cleaning the tank. Then open the outlet used for draining the tank and empty it as much as you can. You can also try attaching a hose pipe to the draining point in order to do this. This will ensure the flow of water to be directed to a predetermined area which will avoid wastage and the damage caused to the soil. This process can be really time-taking in case you are using it for large tanks but is a sustainable option. This should be followed by the detachment of the access hatch at the top of the tank. When the hatch is removed cleaning the interior with pressurised water to exfoliate the build-up of sediments on the side walls and the bottom surface is easier. In case it is a large tank or the settled sediments are heavy then using a trusted anti-bacterial solution with the pressure water can yield better results. After this process, depending on your usage and the regular hygiene maintained, you can choose whether or not to treat your tank with chlorine. Letting it dry for at least 12 hours to clean it completely and then only starting its usage again is always a nice practice.