Water tank cleaning in Al Utaybiyah, Makkah

Potable-rated materials

Linings and disinfectants cleared for drinking water tanks, not general-purpose products.
You get the downtime first

How many hours the tank is out of service, told before we start rather than after we finish.
A first-draw flush

We run the first draw off after refilling, and the tank is not handed back until the water runs clear.
Ground and roof tanks

Villas, apartment blocks and premises that need a written record of each visit.

Why the job is different in Al Utaybiyah

Tanks here hold layered deposits built up over decades and experience persistent seepage from old sewer lines passing near or around the tank itself. The method is set out in full on what Water tank cleaning involves.

The first reason

Fractured piping and primitive sewerage

Water and sewer lines are both over forty years old and may run close together. Leaks from the sewer introduce layers of faecal bacteria and heavy metals into the tank.

The second reason

Popular market and seasonal consumption surges

In Hajj, Umrah and Ramadan the market floods with pilgrims and water consumption spikes. A single tank may empty ten times daily, dropping pressure so low it can siphon sewage seepage inward.

The third reason

Hillside houses and surface drainage

Houses cling to the slope and surface water runs downslope. During heavy rains and Hajj season, contaminated runoff from the hillside can enter the tank through ground seepage and cracks.

The character of Al Utaybiyah

Historic district: close-set buildings, narrow lanes and ageing services

In an old, crowded quarter like this, the tank suffers not just from its own age but from the age of the entire building stock around it.

Before treatment

The condition of the tank decides the method

The Al Utaybiyah popular market sprawls along Hajun Street with shops for clothing, household goods and pilgrim supplies, busiest in Ramadan and Hajj season when pilgrims flood the lanes.

Fine brown sediment beneath shallow water

The layer on the floor

The settled layer is black and foul from ancient faecal bacteria and heavy metals and hydrogen sulphide compounds leaking from aged sewer lines.

Light and algae

Algae is thick and black because anaerobic bacteria thrive in the polluted, dark environment and consume decomposing organic matter.

A damp concrete wall carrying a dark deposit

The deposit on the wall

Wall deposits are black and brown from a mixture of bacteria, metals and sulphides, firmly bonded and extremely difficult to clean off.

A concrete surface with a fine hairline crack

The lining and hairline cracks

Concrete lining is old and likely cracked in several places, with fissures allowing contaminated groundwater to seep inward.

The lid of a water tank on a building roof

The lid and the access hatch

The stone lid is aged and may be cracked or loose, and the maintenance hatch is small and difficult to open because the crowded ground level does not allow wide access.

A plastic pipe leaving the exterior wall of a building

The vent and the overflow pipe

Vent openings and overflow outlets may be completely blocked with black deposits or broken open and unprotected from contamination.

How we work

1
Inspect before the drain

Tank type and material, the condition of the lining, the depth of the sediment, the lid and the vent, and where the drained water will go. We agree the window without supply before anything is opened.
2
Drain, then lift the sludge

The water leaves through the outlet, then the layer beneath it is taken out by hand and by suction. That layer is the reason for the visit, not the water that ran out ahead of it.
3
High pressure wash

Walls, floor and the joint where they meet, with a brush wherever the film resists, then the wash water is taken out completely so nothing we lifted settles again.
4
Disinfect and put back in service

Disinfectant over every internal surface, left for its contact time and then rinsed out, followed by the refill, a first draw off at the taps, and a report on what was inside the tank.

What water tank cleaning includes

An inspection before the valve

Tank type, lining condition, depth of sediment, lid and vent, recorded before any water leaves.
Full drain and sediment removal

The water through the outlet, and the layer below it by hand and by suction until the floor itself is showing.
Pressure washing walls and floor

High pressure across the surfaces and corners, and a brush on anything water alone will not lift.
Disinfection after the wash

A disinfectant intended for drinking water tanks, named to you before it is used, left for its contact time and then rinsed out.
Refill and the first draw off

We refill, run the taps so the new water moves through the pipework, and tell you when it is ready to use.
A report and the next date

What was inside the tank, anything on the lid or the lining that needs repair, and a sensible date for the next clean.

Landmarks of Al Utaybiyah

In Al Utaybiyah on Hajun Street near the Al Utaybiyah popular market and Madinah Road, tanks in the old hillside houses are reached through narrow lanes where the market stalls press close.

Al Utaybiyah Market
Hajun Street
Hajj Street
Madinah Road
Revival of Islamic Heritage Library

Questions about this district

Our water smells strongly of faeces, is this from the tank?

Yes, from an old sewer line leak. Faecal bacteria are present and require strong disinfection. A laboratory test is advisable to assess the degree of contamination.

Does Al Utaybiyah really need more frequent cleaning than other districts?

Yes. Old pipes, constant seepage, and seasonal surges of consumption mean cleaning intervals must be much shorter than in modern areas.

Why is water especially cloudy and bad during Hajj and Umrah seasons?

Sudden intense demand drops pressure severely, causing the tank to siphon contaminants from cracked pipes and soil around it.

Should we arrange extra cleaning just before Hajj starts?

Yes. Monthly cleaning is the baseline, but an extra cleaning immediately before Hajj is wise to ensure the safest possible water for pilgrims.

How often must a tank in such an old district really be cleaned?

Every one to one and a half months as a minimum, and weekly during active Hajj and Umrah seasons.

Is it better to replace the pipes than to keep cleaning the tank?

Yes, replacement of the sewerage and water lines is the permanent solution, but you may need emergency repairs beforehand to make the tank safe.

How much does water tank cleaning in Al Utaybiyah cost?

It is set after the inspection, because the price follows the type of infestation, the size of the space, how far it has spread and the number of visits it needs. Send a photo and a description on WhatsApp and we will give you an estimate before we reach Al Utaybiyah.