Blog    |    How To Clean a Plastic Water Storage Tank

How To Clean a Plastic Water Storage Tank

Cleaning a water water tank doesn’t have to be a major project. The best way to ensure that a routine cleaning is only a routine cleaning—and not some sanitary emergency—is to keep an eye out for any sediment, algae, or other nasty microbial growths. White or translucent tanks are especially vulnerable to contamination because they receive more direct sunlight when placed outside. In such cases they become a spawning ground for bacteria and algae, which can cause bitter tastes and odors, and if left unchecked they may even cause sickness or health problems.

 

The good news is that you probably don’t need to hire anyone to perform an inspection or basic cleaning. Most people can clean their water tanks themselves. You just want to make sure you can access the tank and reach every part of the interior for scrubbing and rinsing. When finished, it should look brand new!

 

In this article we will cover how often you need to clean your water storage tank, as well as what equipment you’ll need to clean it, and what steps are involved in making sure your tank is sanitary enough to drink from.

 

When Do I Need to Clean a Water Storage Tank?

 

How often you need to clean your plastic water tank depends on how much algae, silt, or slime has accumulated inside of it. In most cases it will be about once a year, but some tanks may require more frequent cleaning.

 

You can determine whether or not a tank needs cleaning by routinely inspecting the interior, keeping an eye out for any sediment or microbial growth that would indicate contamination. This is especially important if the tank is exposed to direct sunlight, which can hasten microbial growth. In those cases it’s best to clean the tank two or even three times a year.

 

Fortunately, cleaning a water tank is not super complicated and most people can do it themselves. In addition to routine inspections, you should clean your water tank whenever the following has occurred:

 

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

 

What Do I Need to Clean a Water Storage Tank?

 

Most of the cleaning supplies needed to clean a plastic water storage tank can be found around your house. Deeper, more thorough cleans may require less common tools, and if you can’t reach every corner of the tank by hand you’ll likely need some kind of extender or mop. Cleaning a water storage tank will require the following:

 

  • Floor mop with a sponge head and adjustable or angled rod
  • Bucket
  • Unscented liquid bleach (non-fiber guard)
  • At least two gallons of water
  • Disposable gloves
  • Eye protection
  • Optional: Sump pump, shop vac, wet/dry vacuum, or dry towel
  • Optional: pressure washer
  • Optional: chlorine strips

 

It’s a good idea to make the bleach solution before you begin cleaning. Use one tablespoon of bleach for every gallon of water. Two gallons of solution should be enough, but three or four gallons will ensure you never run out.

 

How Do I Clean a Water Storage Tank?

 

Cleaning a water storage tank is a bit like cleaning a giant bath tub, only with more care towards disinfecting the interior. Here’s a brief rundown of the steps involved:

 

  1. Drain the water tank – If you have a large water tank, make sure to flush the water to a location where it will not inundate the surroundings. The dryer the tank the more effective the end result will be, so make sure to use a pump or wet vac to remove any water left behind from the draining process. Alternatively, use a towel to wipe away any leftover moisture.
  2. Scrub the interior – This is probably the most important part of the cleaning process. You want to remove any dirt, silt, or slime that has accumulated on the walls of the tank. Power washers are a great tool for the job, as some tanks don’t allow enough room for your to easily reach in and scrub the interior yourself. If you don’t have a power washer, use hard-bristled brushes, a mop with an adjustable handle, or any cleaning tool that can be applied at an angle. The idea is to be able to reach every corner of the tank, and to deliver enough force to remove all the scum and silt that has formed since the last cleaning. When you’re finished, the tank should look more or less like it did the day it arrived: pristine.
  3. Rinse out the tank – Use cold water to rinse out the dirty water that has accumulated throughout the scrubbing process. You don’t have to be as thorough this time around, as you’ll be another round of rinsing later on in the cleaning process.
  4. Bleach the interior – Use your bleach solution (1 tablespoon of bleach for every gallon of water) to scrub the interior of the tank. You should be wearing disposable gloves and eye protection during this phase. Again, you can just use your hands for this process, but you need to make sure you can reach every surface of the tank. A pressure washer is the ideal tool for the job, but you can also use a floor mop with an adjustable handle—whatever works for you.
  5. Let the solution sit – To sufficiently disinfect the tank you’ll want to let the bleach solution sit for at least two hours. This will kill off any stubborn bacteria or microbial contaminants.
  6. Optional: Clean the water supply lines – Your home’s water pipes may also be dirty. By running your taps with the bleach solution, you’ll be able to sanitize more than just your water storage tank. You can use a pump to run the solution from the tank to the water inlet and the rest of the lines in your home.
  7. Rinse out the tank – After the bleach has done its job, it’s time to rinse it out. You want to be as thorough as possible because bleach is toxic and a big no-no when it comes to drinking water. So be certain no bleach is left behind. If you ran some of the solution through your water pipes, make sure to run your taps with hot water. You want to continue rinsing or running the taps until all the soap or bleach bubbles are gone.
  8. Optional: Partially refill the tank – Now that the tank is clean, sanitized, and rinsed of the bleach solution, fill it par-way with potable drinking water.
  9. Optional: Measure chlorine levels – To be absolutely sure that there’s no more bleach in the system, use chlorine test strips to test the water supply lines. If the levels are nominal you can proceed to the final step. If the chlorine levels are too high you must return to step No. 7 and rinse the interior until the levels decrease.
  10. Refill the tank – Now that the tank is clean, sanitized, and rinsed clean of the bleach solution, you can fill it all the way to the top with potable drinking water.

 

And you’re done!

 

For more specific cleaning instructions based on the size and type of storage tank you own, follow the guidelines set forth by the World Health Organization.

 

Want to Avoid the Trouble?

 

A dark colored plastic water tank can help inhibit algae growth by blocking sunlight. Go To Tanks is the No. 1 storage tank supplier in the nation for water storage needs, and we have a wide selection of dark colored tanks for you to choose from. Our water storage tanks range in size from just 20 gallons all the way up to 1550 gallons. The standard color is white, but our tanks can be ordered in green, gray, black, blue, or a custom color of your choosing.

 

Call 1-877-468-2657 and we’ll help you find a tank that will reduce the need for cleaning and provide your home or property with a steady, reliable supply of drinking water.

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