Inspection Techniques for Water Storage Tanks: a Guide

Water tank inspection services ensure that your potable water storage tanks remain clean and safe, reducing risks to your employees, processes, and equipment.

In industries where potable water storage tanks are essential for drinking, washing, food preparation, and industrial applications, water tank inspection services are crucial.

These storage tanks hold and store purified water from filtration systems until it is needed. They come in various designs, sizes, and performance capacities to meet the specific requirements of different applications. Water storage tanks are vital to numerous processes in industrial, commercial, and municipal sectors, highlighting the importance of proper selection, installation, and maintenance.

Why is Water Storage Tank Maintenance Important?

A water storage tank represents a valuable asset for facilities that choose to invest in one, and like other critical equipment, it requires regular maintenance.

Proper maintenance offers several benefits, including:

  • Extended Service Life: Regularly scheduled tank inspections and maintenance allow industry professionals to detect existing damage and potential threats before they escalate into major issues. This proactive approach helps preserve the tank’s integrity, thereby extending its lifespan.
  • Improved Equipment Performance: By identifying and resolving issues through routine maintenance, the overall performance of the system is enhanced.
  • Better Water Quality: Addressing problems in the water storage tank and its related systems helps mitigate the risk of contamination and other adverse effects that could compromise the quality of water stored in potable water tanks.
  • Lower Repair and Replacement Costs: Early detection of issues such as corrosion or coating delamination prevents them from becoming significant problems. This minimizes equipment damage, resulting in fewer costly repairs and replacements.

Water Storage Tank Inspection Techniques

Just like with any equipment, proper maintenance for water storage tanks starts with inspections. These inspections fall into two main categories: wet and dry.

Whether a dry or wet inspection is used depends on the tank’s design. If significant issues are found, like peeling paint or thinning steel, the tank will need to be taken out of service for repairs.

Regardless of the chosen method, inspections typically follow a similar pattern. They usually start at the bottom of the tank and move upwards, examining elements like legs, rods, struts, and ladders. Key areas of focus include measuring the steel thickness, paint thickness, and how well any coatings are adhering to the surface.

Maintenance Requirements for Water Storage Tanks

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) emphasizes the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure the structural integrity and sanitation of water storage tanks. The specific frequency of inspections can vary depending on factors like location, operating conditions, and the type of tank itself.

By following these guidelines and recommendations, you can ensure your water storage tanks are properly maintained, minimizing risks and safeguarding public health.

If the system exhibits any of the following symptoms, cleaning should be performed:

  • Repairs or upgrades to the water tank
  • Sedimentation or biological growth (e.g., coliform bacteria)
  • Noticeable changes in water quality

Safety Precautions for Water Tank Maintenance

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), storage tanks are classified as “confined spaces.” Therefore, only qualified personnel equipped with appropriate protective gear and extraction equipment should enter these structures for inspection and maintenance operations.

We offer tried and tested services in Crockett, Grapeland, Kennard, Latexo, Lovelady, Ratcliff, HOUSTON, TEXAS. 

We also offer tried and tested services in Longbeach, and cities, towns, suburbs, localities, and places close to Long Beach such as Lakewood, Rossmoor, Lincoln Village, Seal Beach, Hawaiian Gardens, Los Alamitos, Cypress, Bellflower, Carson, La Palma, Paramount, Cerritos, East Compton, West Carson, Compton, Norwalk, Stanton, Westminster, Lomita, Downey, Lynwood, Rolling Hills Estates, Cudahy, CALIFORNIA.

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