Over time, the number of sediment increases, leading to problems with the water heater. Sediment can begin the process of corrosion and can clog the valves inside the water heater tank, leading to leaks and other issues. Both of these problems decrease efficiency and can result in costly repairs.
Unclean water can carry many harmful germs
If the water tank is not cleaned on a regular basis, it can lead to impurities in the water which may consist of many harmful germs. Water can thus get infected with various kinds of diseases including dysentery, cholera, gasto and several others.
Water storage tanks should be cleaned and disinfected a minimum of once a year. In communities where the water supply has high levels of sediment at certain times of the year, cleaning more often is recommended. The rule of thumb is to do it whenever your household water tastes, looks, or smells unusual.
Contaminated water can transmit diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, salmonella, etc.
If you have a water tank then you will know how important it is to keep it clean. Over time, sediment and organic matter can accumulate in the bottom of your tank and if this goes unchecked, it can quickly lead to issues with the quality of your water, as well as potentially damaging both the tank itself and the pump.
Contaminated water can lead to water-borne diseases:
Contaminated water can lead to illnesses such as Diarrhoea, Cholera, Typhoid and Lead poisoning. The simple act of cleaning your water tank may assist in protecting your family from such water-borne diseases.
Finding yourself running out of hot water more quickly than usual is often a sign that your water heater is on its last legs. When water heaters start to go bad, they often lose their ability to heat water properly, which can result in shorter showers and less hot water overall.
Drinking water containing these microorganisms can cause severe gastroenteritis. Children, older people and people with suppressed immune systems are the most vulnerable. Your guests may also become ill if they drink contaminated water.
Without implementation of appropriate corrosion-control measures, water storage tanks will deteriorate, resulting in holes or possible structural failure. Deterioration will lead to micro-aquatic bacterial growth including Legionella, Pseudomonas and a build-up of biofilm.
Why You Shouldn't Keep Water in Your Fresh Tank for More Than 2 Weeks Without Using. Since your tanks are plastic, water sitting stagnant inside the tank can assume a plastic smell and/or taste. Worse, it can also grow mold, algae, and bacteria.
Reasonably high pressure water is best as it can easily remove any debris on the side of the tank. To remove sludge without losing the rainwater you've already caught, you must pump out the organic material lying on the bottom using a tube inserted through the tank inlet.
You can drain the water from the tank, hose it out, and sweep out the bottom. This way, you can be sure you get all the sludge, but emptying out the tank and climbing into it can be dangerous or difficult. You could also get a rainwater tank pump for cleaning, which will suck the sludge out.
How do you remove bacteria from water? Bacteria can be removed from water through chlorine, UV disinfection, and ozonation. Chlorination is widely used by municipalities to remove bacteria from city water supplies.
SIPHONING WATER STORAGE TANK
Siphoning is simply the process of sucking elements out of your tank and into a new container. This is an effective way of taking out all the debris at the bottom of your tank without having to run off your taps.
This process normally takes anywhere from 2-6 weeks. At temperatures below 70F, it takes even longer to cycle a tank. In comparison to other types of bacteria, Nitrifying bacteria grow slowly. Under optimal conditions, it takes fully 15 hours for a colony to double in size!
Risks to health
coli and salmonella are most commonly found in tank water, but there are more serious organisms. "In tropical parts of Australia you can get things like legionella which causes legionnaires disease," Dr Deere said.
E. coli may be found in water that has been contaminated with sewage and other animal wastes. This could happen during rainfall when the E. coli is washed into water tanks, bore water systems, or water bodies that are used as sources for drinking water.
Contaminated water supplies have been responsible for major outbreaks of severe gastrointestinal illnesses such as gastroenteritis and infections caused by the protozoan parasites Cryptosporidium and Giardia.
Germs and other contaminants are found in rainwater.
While useful for many things, rainwater is not as pure as you might think, so you cannot assume it is safe to drink.
The nature of storage tank cleaning involves working in confined spaces combined with the contaminants that remain inside the tank that can increase the risk of fire, explosion, chemical exposure, and more.
Water Heater Lifespan
With proper maintenance, a tank water heater tank should last six to 12 years. A tankless water heater can last for more than 20 years.
In general, a plastic water tank should serve you for up to 20 years. Metal water tanks are quite strong and durable, as you would expect, and have a life expectancy of more than 30 years.
Firstly, make sure your water tanks are clean and don't have any debris, bio-film or sediments accumulated in the tank. Observe waters colour, smell and taste. A bleachy smell implies the presence of chlorine in it. A metallic taste indicates low pH value or rusting in your pipes.
After you've drained your hot water tank, you can pour a gallon or so of vinegar through it. To ensure the tank gets a thorough soak (try for 6 hours), close the drain valve before introducing the vinegar. Before you restore power to the unit, flush all the vinegar out. Keep it at the right temperature.
Cleaning vinegar
It inhibits the growth of bacteria and algae. You follow the same procedure as bleach. For a tank of 100 litres of water, you'll need one litre of cleaning vinegar. Let everything soak in for 24 hours, and then rinse the tank and pipes well with clean water.