The last thing you want as you are about to take a sip of a refreshing glass of water is to see it looks a bit murky and there is a weird smell coming from the glass. Has the water gone off? Is the tank not suitable? Or did you just leave the water in the tank too long?
Let’s look at how long you should store water in a tank and how to protect the water from contamination in your water storage tank.
What is a water storage tank?
Water storage tanks are used to collect and store water. They are often used as water supplies for houses but are also found on farms, at public events, in food preparation warehouses and in various other locations.
How does a water storage tank work?
A water storage tank simply collects water until it is full and and stores the water in the tank. Water is pumped into the tank from a water source and is stored in the tank. When it comes to the time water is needed from the tank, the storage tank will supply instant access to water for the property.
How long can you store water in a tank?
This is dependent on the conditions water is stored. If you don’t store your water properly, it won’t stay safe to drink for long.
To store water properly you need to follow three simple steps:
- Ensure the storage tank is clean before filling
- Tightly seal container to keep chemicals and light out, using a cover for the water storage will help
- Store in a dark and cool location
You also need make sure water is constantly moving to avoid any possibility of it going stagnant. The best way to do this by choosing a water tank that is correct for your needs. By doing this you ensure that there is constant movement in the tank, and it isn’t standing for too long.
Most common causes of contamination
Bacteria or Algae
These are easy to spot. If your water storage is green, has a funny smell or has stuff floating in it, your water is contaminated.
It is important to store water in a storage tank that is water storage safe. If you use a container that isn’t supposed to store water, the materials of the tank could cause the water to be contaminated quicker.
Accessing the water storage
When you access the storage tank, you need to be careful that you don’t contaminate the water yourself. You can contaminate water by putting your hands in the tank or by putting an object in that has potential bacteria on it already.
How to tell your water is contaminated
It is important to regularly check your water storage tank to make sure the water is still safe to use.
There are a few things you can check for each time you inspect your storage tank:
- Has a strange smell
- The water is murky
- Developed a strange colour
- Green algae
The key thing to remember is to keep on top of your water storage, not literally, but if you keep doing regular checks on the water in the storage tank you can be sure it is safe to use.
What to buy?
We have a wide range of potable drinking water tanks that will help resolve your drinking water source issues. Our water tanks do range in size from 25 litre tanks, all the way up to 2000 litres. To decide what is best for your needs you need to think about the space you have available, the amount of water you will use and your budget.
Here are some examples of potable water tanks we have available.
105 Litre Upright Potable Water Tank
Enduramaxx 15000 Litre Industrial Water Tank
If you’d like to find out more about the water storage tanks we have available, please contact our sales team on 01777 858009 or email sales@kingfisherdirect.co.uk.