Guidelines for Cleaning a Plastic Water Tank

Need of cleaning the water tank

Water tanks are a great help to us as they fulfill our water-related needs by saving water for us.  We should ensure that the water inside stays clean and bacteria-free. There is a need of cleaning the water tank at least once in six months.  During this period, we should keep watch on it if the algae, silt and bacteria, and other microorganisms are developing over there. These microorganisms can grow and thrive in the water.  These unwanted developments may be harmful to us. Cleaning a water tank is important and essential for several reasons.  Cleaning ensures that the water stored in the tank is safe and free from harmful contaminants.  Apart from it, cleaning the water tank can help to prevent blockages in the system, which may lead to reduced water flow.  In fact, regular cleaning can help to extend the lifespan of the water tank by preventing corrosion and rust. In a nutshell, it can be said that a clean water tank ensures that the water supply is safe and reliable, which is essential for both health and sanitation.

STEPS  TO CLEAN PLASTIC WATER STORAGE TANK

Before we proceed to  clean the plastic water tank, we must arrange the following articles as Hose Bucket, Plastic cup or coffee mug, Wet/dry vacuum, Towels, Mop heads, Laundry detergent powder, Bristle brush or  sponge, long-handled scrub brush, Power washer, Baking soda, Toothbrush, Household bleach, Chlorine testing strips, Rubber gloves, Safety goggles

STEP 1 : Draining the water Tank

Draining a water tank is an essential and primary step in the cleaning and maintenance process.  In this process, water is removed from the tank so that it can be thoroughly cleaned and checked.

STEP 2 : Removing the remaining water 

While draining a water tank, some water gets stuck in the tank, in such circumstances, we need to open the drain valve at the bottom of the tank to allow the water to flow out. We should have a container or a pipe to lead the water outside of the tank.

STEP 3 : Cleaning Inside of the tank

Now we have to prepare a cleaning mixture for cleaning the inside of the tank.  We should mix the hot water with laundry detergent powder to remove a lot of sediment and residue from the water tank.

STEP 4 : Scrubbing the inside of the tank. 

We may use a bristle brush to scrub the inside of the tank, with or without cleaning solution.We require to move our arms horizontally from side to side while applying pressure on the brush.  We should continue doing this around the entire inside of the tank, until removing as much sludge as possible.

If  water tank is large, a brush with a long handle can be used, depending on the size of our tank.This type of brush may be more difficult to move, but allow us to reach the bottom of the tank easily and safely. While using a long-handled brush, we  probably need to move the brush up and down vertically instead of horizontally.

It is to be noted that we should not use steel bristles or sponges made of steel. Plastic can scratch easily and these materials will be too harsh for a plastic tank.

STEP 5 :  Scrubbing corners

While scrubbing, we need to pay special attention to corners in our water tank. Residues that get stuck in these areas can be challenging to clean, so we may need to spend a little extra time getting into these areas. We should try using a small toothbrush to help us reach and scrub these challenging places.

We may use baking soda on particularly dirty walls. When we are unable to get all of the sediment and dirt off the interior walls of our tank,  we may try sprinkling the walls with baking soda and scrubbing them with the brush.

STEP 6: Rinsing thoroughly

Once we are satisfied that we have scrubbed most or all of the residues from the inside of the tank, we need to rinse it thoroughly. It can be done by using a hose to spray down the interior walls, ensuring it gets into all the nooks and corners. A pressure washer filled with clean water can be used to do this.

Another process or option you may follow is to rinse the tank by filling it with hot water and letting it stand for 5-6 hours. Drain the tank, ensuring to collect and safely dispose of the drained water. We may go on repeating this process until the water is completely free of detergent and sediment.

STEP 7: Disinfecting the Tank

The water tank needs to disinfect thoroughly by adding chlorine bleach (for a 500-liter tank, take 2 cups) in the clean water and mixing up the solution. The lid may be closed for 24 hours. After twenty-four hours lid is to be opened and take a read of the chlorine amount is done with a chlorine strip. Dip the strip into the water and if there is no chlorine left repeat the previous process.

Now we should drain the water completely and our tank is ready for use again.

We must always purchase a  good quality water storage tank as it is directly related to our health and sanitation. APL APOLLO Water Storage Tanks are very popular among customers across the country for several good reasons. They come up with stellar engineering and quality. These are designed using high-class plastic to keep the stored water pure, safe, and cool at all times, the tank is ideal for household as well as industrial purposes.