Water tank cleaning in Harat Al Baharah, Jeddah

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 Harat Al Baharah

Sea humidity stays high throughout the year and salt settles on metal and renders, causing tanks to rust much faster here than in any inland area. The method is set out in full on how we approach Water tank cleaning.

The first reason

Salt air and humidity rust metal pipes and tanks

Humidity is high all year round and salt in the air settles on every metal surface. Water pipes and metal tanks rust far faster than in inland districts. Rust gets into the water supply and makes it brown and odd tasting, and weakens the pipes as corrosion eats through them.

The second reason

Salt damp soaks through old walls and into tanks

Salt laden dew penetrates old mud and stone walls easily, and tanks standing against outside walls absorb damp from outside and may leak slowly through hairline cracks as the salt crystals expand inside the render.

The third reason

Water arrives by tanker so tanks must be very large

Thuwal has no mains supply, water comes by tanker truck, so tanks are huge and store water for days or weeks. The longer water sits in the tank before use, the better the chance bacteria and algae will grow. Salt water or brackish water sometimes gets delivered by mistake.

Landmarks of Harat Al Baharah

Harat Al Baharah stands directly beside the old Thuwal harbour, and the Thuwal corniche runs past the old buildings. Access to the homes is through the narrow lanes between the houses or from the corniche road itself.

Thuwal Harbour
Thuwal Corniche
Al Shati Mosque
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Before treatment

The condition of the tank decides the method

An old quarter in Thuwal, a small fishing town on the Red Sea coast in northern Jeddah governorate, with low rise homes close to Thuwal harbour and the corniche which Saudi Aramco maintains along the shore.

Fine brown sediment beneath shallow water

The layer on the floor

The floor layer is muddy and salty because of the sea humidity, and salt makes sediment much harder to remove and needs higher pressure to shift.

Light and algae

Sea algae may enter the tank if the opening is close to the sea or the air is very salty, and weak light may slow growth but does not stop it.

A damp concrete wall carrying a dark deposit

The deposit on the wall

Tank walls are coated with white salt deposits and green mould from algae and sea fungi.

A concrete surface with a fine hairline crack

The lining and hairline cracks

Cement render is attacked by salt and damp and cracks faster than renders on inland tanks, and the cracks let seawater in slowly.

The lid of a water tank on a building roof

The lid and the access hatch

Metal tank lids are heavily rusted and hinges may not work. The lid may be heavy and dangerous from corrosion and risk of collapse.

A plastic pipe leaving the exterior wall of a building

The vent and the overflow pipe

The air vent and overflow pipe are clogged with salt and sea algae, and bad smells may signal sea bacteria growth.

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.

What is different about Thuwal Sub-Municipality

Thuwal sub municipality is a small fishing town on the Red Sea coast at the far northern edge of Jeddah governorate. Its old quarters are closely packed popular and mud built houses on narrow streets, with newer low rise concrete homes from the town's development programme beside them. Sea humidity stays high all year, the fishing harbour and the corniche form its seafront, water arrives by tanker so household tanks are everywhere, and the town sits on Wadi Thuwal, ringed by open ground and by the irrigated green campus of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.

Questions about this district

Why do tanks rust so much faster in Thuwal than inland?

Salt and humidity in sea air eat into metal rapidly. Metal tanks need modern protective paint or should be replaced with plastic or sealed tanks.

Water arrives by tanker. Does that mean we need cleaning more often?

Yes, much more often. Water sits in the tank for long periods before use, and salt and damp make bacteria and algae growth easier. We recommend cleaning every month or two.

Is the water from the tanker clean before it goes into the tank?

Tanker water quality varies by source. Some tankers are clean and others may carry sediment. A tank needs thorough cleaning after each filling if you notice cloudiness.

Does salt in the tank cause health problems?

Small amounts of salt make the water taste salty. Larger amounts can cause health issues. Deep cleaning and disinfection removes salt and particles.

The sea is very close. Can sea water seep into a cracked tank?

If a tank close to the sea has cracks, seawater may seep in slowly. Checking for cracks and leaks is very important in Harat Al Baharah.

Should we check the pipes at the same time as the tank?

Yes, pipes here are heavily corroded and may need replacement. We inspect and clean them during tank cleaning, and we recommend replacement if they are very old.

How much does water tank cleaning in Harat Al Baharah 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 Harat Al Baharah.