Why is domestic water tank cleaning essential and how do you do it?

Domestic water tanks should be inspected regularly and cleaned when deemed necessary.

In this blog post, we explore why domestic water cleaning is essential and take you through a step by step process of how to do it.

Why is domestic water tank cleaning important?

Domestic water tank cleaning is an essential part of water hygiene and Legionella control. Over time, dirt, dust, debris, mould and harmful bacteria, including Legionella, can build up in the water tank. Conducting risk assessment-based regular cleaning will remove these from the system, ensuring it is clean, safe and compliant with the law.

A closer look at the risks

Stagnant, low circulation water sources can be a potential breeding ground for unwanted and harmful bacteria. Stagnation can be caused by many factors including under-utilising water, using an excessively large tank, and issues in your water system causing blockages or poor flow. These factors aside, there will always be some stagnation in water tanks. Therefore regular cleaning and disinfection is essential even if these risks are low.

Cold water storage tanks are also a common source of nutrients for biofilm and bacteria, including Legionella. Over time a dirty tank can develop rust, sediment, and silt; unchecked tanks can become contaminated with organic matter such as leaves and small animals in extreme cases.

Another risk is debris coming in from the mains. The tank can act as a catchment area for debris, causing it to harbour nutrients and bacteria.

How should domestic water tank cleaning be carried out?

Step 1: Preparation

Before you start the cleaning process, follow the steps below.

• Ensure the team cleaning the water tank(s) are suitably trained, certified and have the correct PPE equipment.
• Check the Risk Assessment prior to work to familiarise technicians and Responsible Persons with hazards associated with the task, asset(s) and how to reduce or control any risks identified.
• Inform/communicate with all building users that cleaning work is about to take place (use signs as appropriate to reduce or prevent usage of showers/taps during work).
• Photograph the condition of the water tank before commencing work.
• A pre-disinfection cleaning flush is required.
• The tank inlet must be isolated so that the tank can be drained and inspected.
• Any booster pumps associated with the system tank should be isolated according to manufacturer's instructions.

Step 2: Emptying the tank

• Empty the tank (to drain or as per the waste disposal licence as applicable).
• Take a photo of the empty tank for the Log Book.
• If entry is necessary, then two technicians must be present, and confined space safety rules, regulations and procedures must be followed.

Step 3: Cleaning the tank

• Manually scrape clean all internal surfaces and vacuum the floors and walls with a wet vac. All visible dirt and debris should be removed. Any signs of damage, corrosion, scale, flaking, black spotting, and deficiencies (e.g. missing rodent screens, cross-flow vents etc) should be noted.

Step 4: Refilling the tank

• Refill and flush the tank with fresh mains water checking for leaks during the refill process.

Step 5: Disinfection and chlorination

• Note the pH of the mains water.
• For chemical disinfection, chlorinate the water in the tank to the specified concentration in mg/litre (ppm) of free residual chlorine.
• Determine the tank volume, required concentration, minimum contact time and dose per m3 in water.
• Use a chlorine test kit to check the Sodium Hypochlorite and do not add chemicals to the tank until the tank is half-filled with water.
• Add further Sodium Hypochlorite if required and re-test to achieve 50PPM free residual chlorine in the tank. Chlorine may be added at 0.5 litres per m3 and mixed in the tank.
• The concentration of free chlorine is affected by pH. Do not use it in systems with a pH greater than 8.5 and adjust the contact time according to the approved Method Statement.
• Once the required level of chlorine is achieved and maintained, the outlet of the tank may be opened to allow chlorinated water to flow around the system.
• Chlorinated water flows to all outlets and needs to be checked by a technician by successively opening taps and showers. Use the most up-to-date Legionella Risk Assessment (or Water Hygiene Risk Assessment) to identify all sentinels (furthest points) and remaining outlets.
• Where testing all taps/showers is not possible or practical, as a minimum, test the sentinels at the end of each pipe-run along with a proportionate number of outlets along each leg.
• Ensure that 50PPM is achieved at all sentinels for 60 minutes or at least 20PPM for 120 minutes.
• If you believe the water tank will run dry whilst pulling water through the system, turn off the outlet valve to prevent air from entering the system and refill the tank half-way before adding in another dose of chemical and completing the fill of the tank.
• If disinfecting hot down services, allow water from the tank to flow to the calorifier.

Step 6: System recommissioning

• After the required contact time, the chlorinated water must be neutralised using Sodium Thiosulphate (non-hazardous) if the disinfection is >5PPM. You require 2g of Sodium Thiosulphate to dilute 1PPM per 1,000L of water.
• Dissolve with tepid water and dose the tank. Allow to flow throughout the water distribution system and check that water is no-longer chlorinated using Starch/lodide papers.
• Drain the tank to half-way by opening the drain valve or by using a pump and pump out. The ball valve is opened to allow the tank to be refilled with fresh water. Ensure the ball valve closes correctly so that the tank is in no danger of over-filling.
• Once the system has been flushed through or partly drained the TDS should be measured and the levels should be equivalent to the incoming mains water supply (TDS within 5%).
Also, measure the concentration of free chlorine remaining in the tank. It should be between 0.5 and 0.1PPM.
• Record the levels achieved in the Comments section of the Clean & Disinfection Report or Log Book. When levels are acceptable the warning labels should be collected from all outlets and the system returned for use.

Step 7: Documenting the process

• Photograph the condition of the water before reapplying the tank lid.
• Complete a Disinfection Label for each tank and indicate if down services were included in the process.
• Sign and attach a label to each tank and remove the old sticker or place it over the previous one.
• If hot down services were disinfected, turn on the calorifier and ensure the temperature of the water is a minimum of 50°C on the return, or 55°C in a healthcare setting. The calorifier flow should be measured at a minimum of 60°C. Add a service sticker to the calorifier to show the details of the disinfection.
Ensure all equipment is removed and all valves are open on the tank and (if applicable) the calorifier (except Drain Valves).

How often should you clean your domestic water tank?

When and how often you should clean will differ depending on whether the cold water storage tanks serve the building’s drinking water are potable (used for washing hands etc) or non-potable (toilet flushing, possibly from rain water recovery) systems. Drinking water storage tanks need to be cleaned more regularly because they feed drinking water outlets.

In line with The Health and Safety Executive's HSG274 guidelines and code of practice (ACOP L8), you must adhere to the following:

• The temperature of the tank from the inlet and outlet should be inspected at least annually.
• An internal inspection for signs of possible contamination and debris should be carried out every 6 months for drinking water and every 12 months for potable/non-potable water.
• Microbiological samples should be taken every 6 months for drinking water, and only as required by a control scheme for potable and potentially non-potable water.
• Water tanks should be cleaned and disinfected annually (or more frequently if an inspection deems it necessary) for drinking water and only when inspection deems necessary for potable and non-potable water.
• It is important to consider that although a water tank may contain non-potable water, aerosols may be created during usage and also maintenance procedures should be considered and risk assessed for activities such as testing fire tanks.

How can you safely dispose of any liquid waste?

Cleaning and disinfecting your tank can result in a lot of water waste. Letting too much water out at one time can cause erosion or flooding, so it’s important that the water follows a channel to its final disposal point.

Wastewater should not be discarded in rivers as the organic materials and high chlorine levels can be dangerous for fish and plant life. Instead, it should be disposed of to a sewer network, transported to a sewage treatment plant or placed in a septic tank that flows into an underground soakage system.

Summary

Ultimately, domestic water tank cleaning is about maintaining good water hygiene, human health and safe water distribution systems.

To find out how we can help you with domestic water tank cleaning or any other aspect of water treatment, get in touch.