Tips to Clean And Safe Drinking Water Tank

Still finding How to clean water tank at home easily? don’t go anywhere, our expert team shared 5 simple steps you must know about.

Your water tank is the main source of your daily drinking water. In today’s busy urban life, we are entirely dependent on overhead or underground water tanks for everyday use. 

We almost forgot that the water tank becomes a silent breeding area for dangerous bacteria, algae, and insects that can lead to many diseases like 

• typhoid, 
• diarrhoea, 
• cholera, or skin infections

That is mainly risky for children, old people, and people with low immunity.

In this article, our expert team shared how to clean water tank at home easily to keep your water tank clean and safe. Then follow these simple steps:

Quick Checklist: how to clean water tank at home easily

Step 1: Drain all the water from the tank

Step 2: Scrub the inside wall and surface of the tank

Step 3: Rinse the tank thoroughly

Step 4: Disinfect the water tank

Step 5: Final rinse and safe refill

Why It’s Important to Keep Your Water Tank Clean

Your water tank collects water 24/7. Over time, dirt, dust, mud, bird droppings, dead insects, and algae gather inside. This not only makes the water look and smell bad, but it can also spread harmful bacteria and diseases.

If you want safe drinking water, water tank cleaning should be on your regular home maintenance list. Studies recommend cleaning it at least once every six months.

How to Clean Water Tank at Home Easily – Follow these 5 Steps

Below are 5 simple steps that will help you to clean water tank at home easily with basic tools and household items:

Step 1: Drain All the Water

The first step towards a water tank cleaning process is to empty your tank. Switch off your water motor or pump and open all outlet valves or taps that are connected to the tank and let the water flow out. For overhead tanks, gravity will help drain water quickly.

If you have an underground or big storage tank, you may need to use a small water pump to remove any leftover water that doesn’t drain naturally.

Step 2: Scrub the Inside Walls and Surface

After draining water, you can see dirt and sediments stuck to the tank’s walls and surface. Now take a long-handled brush, a thick sponge, or a scrubber. Make a cleaning solution by mixing detergent or mild soap in a bucket of warm water. 

Scrub every inch of the tank walls, corners, and floor. Don’t forget tricky spots like edges and the base where dirt settles the most. If your tank is too deep, attach the brush to a long stick or rod. If you don’t scrub well, germs and algae may stay behind.

Step 3: Rinse the Tank Thoroughly

After scrubbing the tank, you’ll see dirty, soapy water inside the tank. Now wash it with water and open the drain valve, and let it flow out. Next, take a hose pipe and spray clean water inside the tank to rinse off leftover dirt and soap.

Rinse the tank at least two or three times. Keep checking if the water coming out is clear and free from any soap or dirt. This ensures your water tank is ready for safe disinfecting.

Step 4: Disinfect the Water Tank

Rinsing removes dirt, but disinfecting kills harmful bacteria and germs. Fill the tank halfway with clean water. Now add a disinfectant like liquid household bleach or chlorine solution.

How much to use?

• For every 1000 litres of water tank capacity, mix around 50–60 ml of liquid bleach.
  
• If using granular bleaching powder, follow the pack instructions carefully.

Mix the solution well using a stick and close the tank lid. Let the solution stay inside the tank for at least 2–4 hours. This contact time kills bacteria, viruses, and algae that normal scrubbing cannot remove.

If your tank smells bad or hasn’t been cleaned for years, let the disinfectant stay overnight for best results.

Step 5: Final Rinse and Safe Refill

Once disinfecting is done, drain out all the disinfectant water. Use the hose to rinse the tank with fresh water once again. Make sure there’s no smell of bleach left.

Now your tank is ready. Close all valves, shut the lid tightly to prevent dust, insects, or birds from getting in. Refill the tank with clean drinking water.

Extra Tips to Keep Your Water Tank Clean & Safe 

✔ Cover Your Tank Properly: Always keep the tank lid closed to stop dust, leaves, and insects from falling in.

✔ Check for Leaks or Cracks: Inspect your tank once in a while. Cracks can let in dirt and pests. Fix them quickly.

✔ Clean Surroundings: Keep the area around your tank neat. Don’t let garbage, bird nests, or open drains collect near the tank.

✔ Repeat Regularly: Now that you know how to clean water tank at home easily, do it at least twice a year — or more if you notice dirt in your water.

✔ Hire Help if Needed: If the tank is too big or hard to clean, hire a professional water tank cleaning service. They have special equipment for deep cleaning and disinfection.

In Short

Your family’s health starts with clean water. Knowing how to clean water tank at home easily gives you control over the quality of your drinking water. 

So follow these simple steps or book SafaiKaro for water tank cleaning near your area, add this to your cleaning routine, and enjoy pure, safe drinking water every day.

References:

1. Pathak, R. A., & Kumbhar, A. P. (2022). Automatic tank cleaner. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362846713_AUTOMATIC_TANK_CLEANER

2. World Health Organization. (2020). Cleaning and disinfecting water storage tanks and tankers (WHO Technical Note TN-03). https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/wash-documents/who-tn-03-cleaning-and-disinfecting-water-storage-tanks-and-tankers.pdf?sfvrsn=394020f2_4

3. Kamble, R., Pawar, S., Bhosale, A., & Kamble, A. (2022). Design and fabrication of water tank cleaning machine. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364660830_Design_and_Fabrication_of_Water_Tank_Cleaning_Machine

4. Aher, S. S., Suryawanshi, A. P., Shelke, S. R., & Mhaske, R. R. (2018). Automatic overhead tank cleaning system. International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS), 5(10), 176–179. https://ijaers.com/uploads/issue_files/25-IJAERS-OCT-2018-23-AutomaticOverhead.pdf