Maintenance of Your Tank
Just like any other home investment, your water tank requires a degree of regular maintenance to ensure that it is performing at the optimal level. Just as you would clear the gutters on your roof or mow your lawns, the same applies to taking care of your water tank.
There are some easy steps that can be followed to ensure you are getting the best use out of your water tank:
- Ensure that the strainer screens are in a good enough condition to prevent insects and other animals from getting into the tank
- Reduce the build-up of organic matter by regularly cleaning up the gutters and pipes that feed water into your tank
- The screens and gutters that provide the path of water into your tank should be cleared two to three times a year
- After larger rainfall events, clear the screens and gutters as often large deluges will result in leaves and debris to clog them
- Use first flush diverters as a preventative means of tank maintenance.
- First flush diverters divert the initial flow of water during rainfall events that may contain built up debris
- Use UV air and water filters to kill pathogens and maintain a clean water supply
- Remove built up sludge that is sitting on the bottom of the tank regularly
- Clean out the build-up of organic material
- Never use kerosene on your tank as it is corrosive.
- Try to avoid products that are oil-based in your tank
The Australian Department of Health recommends that once your rainwater tank is installed, the catchment area on your roof and gutters must be inspected and cleaned on a regular basis (every 6 months):
- Gutters – your gutters will need regular clearing and cleaning as part of general house maintenance and fire security. Build ups of leaves may also impede on the flow of water into your tank so it is important to keep your gutters cleared.
- Roof – be sure to regularly check your roof for build ups of debris. Leaves, plants, tree branches, animal matter can get into your tanks water supply so be sure to keep these areas cleaned.
- Tank inlets – to make sure your inlets are fully insect-proof as well as light proof, regularly checked, repaired and cleaned if need be.
- Pipework – check for structural integrity. Sections of pipework that are not self-draining should be drained. Buried pipework, such as with ‘wet systems’, can be difficult to drain or flush. Where possible drainage points should be fitted.
- Tanks that are no longer required should be drained, cut up and removed to an appropriate waste disposal site.
- In addition to six-monthly inspections, tanks should be inspected every 2-3 years for the presence of accumulated sediments. If the bottom of the tank is covered with sediment the tank should be cleaned.
