Cleaning Your Overhead Water Tank After Floods, Simple Steps (Video)

Transcript

Did you know flood water can hide germs in your tank?

Did you know flood water can hide germs in your tank?

Cleaning After Flood

In this video we’ll walk through a quick, five-stage routine to get your rooftop water tank safe after a flood, and reveal the single most crucial step at the end.

Why clean after flood

When floodwater or muddy runoff finds its way into the tank, it mixes with the layer of fine silt that settles at the bottom. That brown sludge is a perfect breeding ground for germs, so simply refilling won’t make the water safe.

Safety first

Wet roofs are slippery, so wait for a dry spell and wear rubber-soled shoes. Switch off the motor pump at the mains and keep hands away from any wiring. Never climb into a closed concrete tank, oxygen can be low and fumes build up fast.

Minimum crew

You’ll need at least two people, one on the roof and one on the ground, to handle the tank safely, keep the pump off, and watch for any spills or slips.

Cleaning steps

First, set aside enough drinking water for the day and boil or treat it. Close the inlet valve and switch off the pump, then drain the tank using the drain valve or taps. Scoop out the sludge with a plastic bucket, keep it away from any drain, and finally apply a tank-specific disinfectant at the label’s strength, rinse the pipes, and refill.

Mark the date

Stick a small note in your kitchen cupboard with the cleaning date. A good rhythm is a clean before the monsoon, one after it, and any time floodwater or an animal gets inside.

Phitkari myth

Alum, or phitkari, makes mud clump and the water look clearer, but it doesn’t kill germs and actually adds more sludge over time. Clear water isn’t the same as safe water, so a proper scrub and disinfection are still essential.

Water use until clean

Until the tank is fully cleaned, keep boiling drinking water for a full minute at a rolling boil, or use chlorine tablets exactly as directed. You can also rely on sealed bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth, washing raw fruit, and making ice.

Boiling time

A rolling boil for at least one minute kills most microbes, making the water safe for drinking and cooking while you wait for the tank to be fully disinfected.

The one key step

The decisive factor in making your tank safe is using a disinfectant that’s made for water tanks, mixing it at the concentration the label recommends, and giving it enough contact time before rinsing. Skip this and the water may still harbor hidden germs.

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Read the full guide

Read the complete guide on thecareonline.com. This is general information, not medical advice.