A technician washing the inside wall of a water tank with a pressure hose

Water tank cleaning in Umm Al Salam Jeddah

Umm Al Salam lies in south eastern Jeddah on the Old Makkah Road, a popular old district with low rise homes and simple shops. The area was redeveloped from informal settlements, so buildings date from different eras. Some homes are new and some are decades old. Tanks here may serve residents from both periods. Pipework is a mix of old and new.

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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 Umm Al Salam

Tanks here are relatively aged and may contain piping from different development eras. Sediment comes from old corroded pipes as much as from the water supply itself. The method is set out in full on how we approach Water tank cleaning.

The first reason

Mixed old and new piping raises diverse sediment

Umm Al Salam was informal settlement then redeveloped, leaving its pipework mixed. Old lines from before redevelopment may be rusted and shed iron oxide. New connections may not meet the same standards. This blend produces varied deposits.

The second reason

Shops and homes share the same water network

Shops on the main road and homes behind it draw from one tank. The shop may consume water heavily while residents get weak pressure. Low pressure sucks air into the lines which can contaminate the water.

The third reason

Old tanks are corroded and may leak

Some tanks in Umm Al Salam are very old and may hold rust deposits or concealed cracks. Small leaks may be present undetected. Deep cleaning and engineering inspection may reveal damage.

Umm Al Salam on the map

Umm Al Salam sits about 4.5 km from Al Harazat and about 4.5 km from Al Mahamid.

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Before treatment

The condition of the tank decides the method

A south eastern district on Old Makkah Road with popular housing and buildings redeveloped as part of informal settlement clearance programmes, containing small shops and services along the main road.

Fine brown sediment beneath shallow water

The layer on the floor

Sediment here comes from old pipes as much as from the water itself. Rusted iron and mineral salts deposit alongside normal water sediment.

Light and algae

Algae may grow but old pipes and rust are the bigger issue. Cleaning alone may not solve it without pipe replacement.

A damp concrete wall carrying a dark deposit

The deposit on the wall

Wall deposits run brown or red from iron oxide. This caked film is hard to remove because rust penetrates deep.

A concrete surface with a fine hairline crack

The lining and hairline cracks

Cracks are likely in aged tanks. Small leaks may be hidden but cause water loss and humidity around the tank.

The lid of a water tank on a building roof

The lid and the access hatch

The lid may not seal tightly on old tanks. The maintenance hatch may be rusted and hard to open.

A plastic pipe leaving the exterior wall of a building

The vent and the overflow pipe

The vent hole may be partially blocked and the overflow discharge may not function correctly.

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 Umm Al Salam

Umm Al Salam sits on Old Makkah Road where Al Salem Mosque and the Umm Al Salam Health Centre stand. We access tanks via Al Janabin Street and side residential lanes branching from the main road.

Old Makkah Road
Al Salem Mosque
Al Janabin Street
Umm Al Salam Health Centre

Questions about this district

The flat water is cloudy but the shop next door says theirs is clear. Why?

Pressure may differ between flat and shop. The flat may take water from lower in the tank where sediment sits. The shop may draw from higher up. Tank cleaning is essential.

The house pipes are very old. Is cleaning enough?

Cleaning removes sediment from the tank but old pipes may continue to shed rust. Replacing the piping may be better than repeated cleaning.

The tap water tastes metallic and odd. Is it the tank or the pipes?

Both can cause metallic taste. Old tanks release iron and old pipes shed mineral salts. Cleaning and inspecting both tank and pipes together is necessary.

The tank is shared between homes and a shop. Does it need different cleaning?

The shop may need cleaner water than the homes, but one tank has one cleaning cycle. We may do deeper cleaning if the shop has high hygiene needs.

Some flats are in old buildings and some in new ones. Does this affect the tank?

Yes, mixed piping can cause uneven pressure. Flats in older buildings may have weak pressure. Deep cleaning and full network inspection may help.

The flat water stops quickly if we open two taps. Why?

Old pipes may be narrow or partially blocked. The tank may be small for the population. Pipe cleaning or replacement may improve flow.

How much does water tank cleaning in Umm Al Salam 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 Umm Al Salam.