How to clean a water tank?

Water is an essential resource for living and performing countless tasks. For this reason, in most homes or companies there are containers to store it, be they underground, installed on the ground or aerial. Perhaps you have wondered many times how to clean a water tank or this very necessary idea has never crossed your mind.

The truth is water tanks tend to get dirty very easily, as they are a perfect space for the development of microorganisms that could bring many health problems. If you want to learn how to clean it in the simplest, safest and most effective way, don't stop reading!

Why is it important to clean a water tank?

This task is essential to prevent or eliminate the accumulation of polluting waste that favor the proliferation of different types of bacteria harmful to health. If you don't, for whatever reason, you'll see how soon they will fill with algae and silt. In this way, the microbes will multiply.

As you can see, the well-being of your family and of anyone who uses or consumes the water depends on the cleaning of these tanks. Now, there is no definite rule about how often tanks should be cleaned, but at the very least, it is recommended to disinfect them completely every six months.

How to clean a water tank?

Perhaps, at first it may seem like a tedious job, however, once you know how to do it in the correct way, with the indicated materials, it will be easy, like any other domestic task. Follow these steps to achieve it.

1. Have tools and cleaning products handy

Cleaning a water tank does not require so many things. All you need is several rags, a new or sterile brush, a bucket and a shovel. As a disinfectant chemical, a good choice is bleach or bleach.

Do not forget the cleaning gloves to protect your hands from the abrasive action of the products. Never use wire brushes, detergents, soaps, or cleaning powders!

2. Close the valve and remove almost all the water from the tank

Make sure to turn off the faucet that supplies the tank and open the cleaning valve to let out the stored water. You can help yourself with a bucket to make the process faster.

Don't release all the liquid. Leave about 6 inches, but be careful not to shake it to avoid spreading dirt.

3. Clean all areas of the tank

Brush the walls, bottom and lid vigorously, starting with just water and without any additional products. Pay special attention to the most hidden corners, the edges and the area of ​​the tubes that allow entry and exit; it is there that the greatest amount of dirt usually accumulates.

Scoop up the residue with a shovel and pour it into a bucket. To get the contaminated water out, open the drain cock and never use the distribution pipe.

4. Fill half the tank with water and apply the chlorine

In this part you will already have half the way ahead. The proportion is very simple: if the tank is one thousand liters, add one liter of concentrated chlorine, while if it is 500 liters, add only half a liter.

Be very careful when handling chlorine. Above all, avoid contact with your hands and eyes. Let it rest for at least an hour so that it takes the action we want.

Read this article: The misuse of chlorine and its effects on health

5. Rinse until all chemical is released to clean the water tank

Empty the water tank again and rinse as many times as necessary to remove all bleach. Take a good look at how the tank is looking.

If you notice yellow, brown or green traces, scrub and apply more bleach. These spots are the evidence that the bacteria are still there. Eliminate them completely!

Later, with the help of a wet cloth, remove any remaining chlorine. Then finish with another dry cloth. It is essential that the cloth of the rags is cotton or a similar fabric so that they do not release lint.

6. Fill the water tank

Once the cleaning process is complete, open the valve so that the tank is filled as usual. Check that the water comes out normally.

At the same time, open several taps in the house for a few minutes. In this way you will prevent them from becoming clogged by the accumulation of air. When the water reaches its level, put the lid on very well to prevent anything from falling into the tank.

7. Don't forget to clean again!

A tip that does not fail is to write down in a notebook, in the phone book or in a place that is easy to remember, the cleaning date of the water tank to know when it is time to repeat it.

As we said at the beginning of this article, do it at least twice a year. However, the frequency should be higher if the water you receive contains more salts, since more plaque tends to be produced.

Disposal of waste generated

When cleaning the water tank, it is inevitable to come across liquid and solid debris including cloudy water, chlorine, scale, dust, sand, and even the bristles of the brush with which you have cleaned.

This is collected with the help of a disinfected shovel and a plastic bucket.. After rinsing, the water can be eliminated through the drainage system of the same tank; never through the pipes for domestic use because they would be contaminated, nor the rain drain, much less throw onto the public highway.

It may interest you: How to clean sticky residue from the floor

Cleaning a water tank is looking after your health

When buying a tank, make sure it is strong and comfortable to clean. The most popular tanks are those made of polyethylene, as they are lighter and easier to maintain.

Always verify that they include antibacterial protection. However, above the material with which they are made, the essential thing is that they have a hermetic lid.

Perform the installation in such a way that it can be accessed for disinfection, without posing a danger. It is best to schedule the cleaning a couple of days in advance; This makes it possible to use the water to wash clothes, clean the toilets or water the garden. The idea is not to waste this resource.

Another fundamental aspect when cleaning the water tank is that all members of the family know it. In this sense, confirm that no one is consuming the water while disinfection is taking place; ingesting it would be worse than previous contamination.

For its part, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) highlights the importance of keeping water tanks covered, in places where there is no possibility of receiving spills of polluting substances, as well as dust, dirt, animal feces or any other disease-causing agent.

Also, in addition to constant cleaning, a good complement is to install systems for filtration and purification. Your water will be even cleaner and safer!