Water tank sealing in Al Shuhada Makkah
Al Shuhada is an unplanned quarter in northern Makkah at the Thaniyat Al Bayda pass, hemmed between Jabal Al Barud, Jabal Al Shahid and Wadi Al Tanim. Tanks here rest on naturally fissured rocky ground that is unstable. Foundations give uneven support and tanks tilt and bend under water pressure.
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Potable-rated materials
Linings and disinfectants cleared for drinking water tanks, not general-purpose products.
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You get the downtime first
How many hours the tank is out of service, told before we start rather than after we finish.
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A first-draw flush
We run the first draw off after refilling, and the tank is not handed back until the water runs clear.
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Ground and roof tanks
Villas, apartment blocks and premises that need a written record of each visit.
Why the job is different in Al Shuhada
The ground here is naturally rocky and fissured, and soil is unstable. Houses and tanks are set on foundations that provide no even support. The method is set out in full on Water tank sealing in detail.
Tanks on unstable fissured rocky ground
The ground in Al Shuhada is rocky by nature and natural fissures cause subsidence and tank movement. Shallow foundations do not penetrate rock deeply enough and tanks tilt under pressure.
Industrial workshops on Hajj Street leave deposits and oils
Workshops in the area deposit oils, dirt and smoke on rooftops. These contaminants stick to the coating and cause small pits and rapid cracking.
Old cemeteries raise groundwater levels
Old cemeteries linked to the battle of Fakh in the area raise groundwater levels. Salt and minerals from groundwater rise to the surface and attack tanks from below.
The character of Al Shuhada
Historic district: close-set buildings, narrow lanes and ageing services
Unplanned housing on fissured rocky ground means tanks are unstable and subside unevenly. Sealing must account for instability and foundation reinforcement before surface treatment begins.
What we read before any material is opened
In northern Makkah at the Thaniyat Al Bayda pass, hemmed in by Jabal Al Barud to the southeast, Jabal Al Shahid to the west, Wadi Al Tanim northward and Wadi Al Zahir southward. Unplanned housing spreads over fissured rocky ground from Hajj Street, where industrial workshops line the road, to Al Shuhada Square.
Cracking in the wall
Foundation inspection reveals tank instability on fissured rocky ground and uneven subsidence.
The floor to wall joint
Joint inspection reveals cracks from uneven pressure caused by tilting and bending.
The condition of the old lining
Exterior coating inspection shows pits and wear from oils, industrial contaminants and groundwater salt.
Sediment and scale
Corner and edge inspection shows cracks widening from continuous movement and uneven pressure.
The pipe entries
Groundwater inspection reveals high water and moisture depositing salt on external walls.
The hatch and the vent
Tank alignment inspection shows visible bending and deviation from plumb due to uneven subsidence.
How we work
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1
Inspect with the tank empty
We drain it and read the surface dry: whether the water leaves through a crack, a joint or a pipe collar, and what the outer face of the wall and the ceiling below are telling us. A level test with the valves closed separates a leaking tank from leaking pipework.
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2
Clean and prepare the substrate
Sediment out, a high pressure wash, the loose old lining and the weak surface layer of the concrete taken back, then dried. The material grips sound substrate and nothing else.
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3
Make the cracks and joints good
Cracks are chased out and filled with a repair mortar, a cove is formed where the floor meets the wall, and every pipe collar is treated on its own.
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4
Lining, fill test, sterilisation
Successive coats, each run across the one beneath it, on the face the water touches. Then a full cure, a fill with the level watched, and sterilisation with the first fill run to waste before the tank returns to use.
What water tank sealing includes
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Finding where the water leaves
Carried out drained and dry: cracks, joints, pipe collars and the outer face of the wall.
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Draining and sediment removal
The last of the water and the settled layer on the floor come out, because a lining does not stick over sediment.
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Cracks and joints made good
The crack opened and filled, a cove formed at the floor to wall junction, and each pipe entry worked separately.
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Lining coats on the water face
More than one coat, each crossing the one below, in material made for drinking water tanks rather than roof waterproofing.
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Curing, fill test and sterilisation
The material is left to cure, the tank is filled and the level watched, then sterilised and the first fill run to waste. How long the cure takes follows the material and the weather, and we tell you before the date so you can plan around the supply.
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A follow-up level check
We come back once it is in service to read the level and check the outer face, because any remaining loss shows up then rather than on the day of the work.
What is different about Al Utaybiyah Sub-Municipality
Al Utaybiyah sub municipality covers the old districts north of the Grand Mosque: the hillside quarters of Al Hajun, Al Utaybiyah and Al Bayban, Al Zahir and Al Shuhada at the northern entrance, and the newer Al Zahra, Al Diyafah and An Nuzhah westward. Its building stock is among the oldest in Makkah, stone houses on the hills, packed apartment blocks and sewers decades old, threaded with crowded markets like the Utaybiyah souq and furnished flats that fill in the pilgrim seasons. Wadi Al Zahir and Wadi Al Tanim carry storm water through it, and industrial workshops line Hajj Street.
Questions about this district
Why do tanks in Al Shuhada tilt and bend?
The ground is rocky and fissured and foundations settle unevenly. The tank subsides more on one side than the other and tilts under water pressure.
Does tilting and bending cause tank cracks?
Yes. Uneven pressure causes cracks at corners and joints. The tank cannot withstand pressure if it is unstable.
Do oils from industrial workshops enter the tank?
No, but they stick to the outer coating and cause small pits and cracking. Water enters through these small pits.
How do we handle tanks on unstable ground?
The foundation must be reinforced first with stone and concrete. Then the tank must be levelled before sealing begins.
Does high groundwater affect tank lifespan?
Yes. Salt and minerals from groundwater deposit on the coating from outside and cause rapid wear.
Is sealing alone enough or must the foundation be repaired?
Sealing may protect from water but does not fix subsidence and tilting. Foundation repair must come first to ensure tank stability.
How much does water tank sealing in Al Shuhada 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 Shuhada.
Nearby districts we cover
Other services in Al Shuhada
Other services we provide to residents of Al Shuhada.
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Water tanks
Water tank cleaning
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Water tanks
Water tank sterilization
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Water tanks
Tank leak repair
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Residential
Cockroach control
Need water tank sealing in Al Shuhada? Tell us what you saw and we will tell you what it needs
We reach Al Shuhada at a time we agree, and you get the full cost before we start.