Cleaning Domestic Water Storage Tank.

Most houses will have a water storage tank installed either on the roof top or hiding inside the ceiling. The size of the water tank varies from house to house. The standard tank sizes in Malaysia are in the range of 900 litres to 3,000 litres.

The materials used in the construction of the tank also varies from stainless steel to galvanized iron (GI) and polytank.

This is a stainless steel water tank with fastened
secured lid.

How many house owners will inspect the water storage tank? Some owners never look at their water tank until there is a leakage or visibly contaminated water ran out from their tap.  Some owners will inspect the water tank when the water from the tap smells strange or taste abnormal. A few exceptional owners will inspect the water regularly.

The water storage tank should be inspected regularly for dislodged tank cover. This may sound strange but it happens. Any opening invites creepy crawly creatures from insects to lizards and snails into the tank. Rats can occasionally drown in the water tank. For those water tanks with secured and fastened lid or closure, the tank should also be inspected. You will be surprised to find the kind of dirt accumulated in the water tank. This dirt could be from the main incoming source(mud) or pollutant(dust and other solid particles) entering through the overflow pipe or the ventilation vent(breathing vent).

The two ventilation vents on top of the tank

My water tank is a secured and fastened stainless steel tank. Yet, see the amount of dirt accumulated at the bottom of the tank. This is a combination of mud and dirt. 

See the amount of dirt accumulated at the bottom of the tank, before the cleaning.

The tank should be emptied and washed regularly, preferably every six (6) months.

Using a broom with long pole to reach
the bottom of the tank. Leave some water inside
the tank and sweep gently.
The water will turn coffee brown colour after 
stirring with broom.

For GI tank, there is another problem. The tank may looks perfect from the outside, but the rust can be up to half an inch thick inside the tank. The minute the tank is vibrated, the whole tank breaks up.

The water tank can be cleaned easily by using a soft brush or broom(use a new broom please) with long pole. The dirty water is drained via the outlet valve located at the bottom or near the base of the tank. 

Drain the dirty water via the bottom outlet valve.
See the coffee brown colour water being discharged.

Rinse the tank thorough before refill the tank, with water from the main source via the normal ball float valve intake pipe.

See how a clean water storage tank should be.
Imagine you bathing and drinking the
contaminated water before the cleaning.
Go and inspect your own storage tank now.