The task of cleaning a concrete water tank does not need to be a complicated process. It is important to do routine cleaning to ensure that a sanitary emergency does not occur. The key factor is to look out for any algae, sediment and any other dangerous microbial growth.

When is the right time to clean?

How often one needs to clean concrete custom water tanks is based on how much slime, silt and algae has accumulated within it. Mostly, it will be an annual affair, but certain water tanks need more frequent cleaning.

One can decide on when to clean based on a routine inspection of the interior, keeping an eye out for any microbial growth or sediment that would cause contamination. This is especially crucial when a water storage tank has exposure to direct sunlight which can encourage microbial growth. In such cases, cleaning must be done 2 to 3 times a year.

The concrete water storage tank must be cleaned when the following occurs:

• A new water supply line is installed
• A current water supply line has been repaired
• Water from the tank system has tested positive for bacteria
• The tank has not been drained or used for several months.

Equipment required

A typical concrete water tank clean requires the following equipment:

• Buckets
• Floor mops
• Unscented liquid bleach
• Gallons of water
• Eye protection
• Disposable gloves
• Optional items (dry vac/dry towel/sump pump/pressure washer/chlorine strips)

The cleaning process

The process of cleaning custom water tanks is akin to cleaning a giant bathtub, but with more focus on disinfection. The process involves the following steps:

• Drain the tank

In case you have a large concrete water tank, the water must be flushed out to an area where it will not inundate the surroundings. A dry situation is most ideal for a concrete water tank. Use a wet vac, pump or even a dry towel to get rid of any moisture.

• Scrub the insides

This is very important. You may want to remove any slime, silt or dirt that has accumulated on the walls of the water tank. A very useful tool is the power washer. If you don’t have one, you may use a brush with hard bristles or a mop with an adjustable handle or any other similar cleaning tool.

• Rinse the tank

Make use of cold water to rinse out the dirty water which has accumulated all through the scrubbing process.

• Bleach the insides

Make use of bleach solutions (1 tbsp of bleach for every gallon of water) for scrubbing the insides of the concrete tank. One should wear disposable gloves and eye protection in this phase. The ideal tool for the job is a pressure washer, but one can also use a floor mop with an adjustable handle.

• Allow the solution to sit

For proper disinfection of the concrete water tank, one must let the bleach solution sit for at least 2 hours. This helps to kill any stubborn microbial contaminants or bacteria.

• Clean lines of water supply

The water pipes of the home may also be dirty. By running taps with a bleach solution, it is possible to sanitise more than simply the water storage tank. One can make use of a pump to run the solution from the tank to the inlet for water and remaining lines in the home.

• Rinse the tank

After the bleach has finished its job, it is time for rinsing it away. One needs to be very thorough with this process since bleach is toxic and is very dangerous for drinking water if not completely removed.

• Fill the tank

Now the concrete water tank is completely sanitised, clean and rinsed off, it can now be filled with potable drinking water.

By following these few simple steps, it is easy to efficiently clean concrete custom water tanks for future usage.