Water storage tanks are an important part of the water distribution system in many of today's households. In order to ensure that the water distributed from your water storage tank is of good quality, you should routinely have the tank inspected and cleaned.

The suitability of water quality is reliant on the intended use of the water. If you get your potable water from a water storage tank, here's a look at some of the water quality issues you will need to address on a periodic basis.

Residue buildup 

Residue refers to thin layers of microscopic organisms like algae that stick to the interior walls of your tank over time. Residue buildup inside water storage tanks often takes place when water stagnates. Water stagnation occurs when the rate at which water is supplied into your tank is slower than that at which it leaves the tank. This situation may also arise if the water in the storage tank is not pumped out for a long time.

Residue buildup inside a water storage tank can cause drinking water to have unpleasant tastes and odours. In order to rid your water storage tank of the problem of residue buildup, it is important to have the tank regularly cleaned with cleaning chemicals approved by local water quality agencies. After you have cleaned your water storage tank, you should flush it with clean water to help rid of any residual chemicals that may compromise the quality of freshly supplied water.

Sediment accumulation

Over time, natural deposits of inorganic minerals, e.g. calcium and manganese, contained in water will settle on the bottom part of your water storage tank. Just like residue, sediment will cause potable water to have nasty tastes and odours. Apart from that, sediment can harbour microorganisms that may be harmful to human health because it may cushion them from the disinfecting effect of water cleaning chemicals.

So as to remove sediment, it is important to drain the entire tank on a periodic basis. Submerge one end of a siphon hose that is connected to a water pump into the bottom part of your tank to suction the sediment. Be careful not to drain the tank completely because that could cause damage to the water pump. Once all the sediment is removed, disinfect your tank with chlorine.

Ensuring that both residue and sediment are regularly removed from your water storage tank is a good way to boost the quality of your drinking water.