Water tank sealing in Usaylah Makkah
Usaylah is a large master planned suburban project west of Al Sharai, north of the Fourth Ring Road between Wadi Jalil, Al Muaysim and Badr. The scheme mixes residential and commercial plots and new apartment buildings rise on elevated uneven terrain. Tanks here face pressure from calcareous soil and poor drainage in hilly ground, and mains water carries calcium and contaminants from limestone bedrock.
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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 Usaylah
The terrain is elevated and uneven with generally calcareous soil. Natural drainage is poor and water pools easily around tanks and foundations. The method is set out in full on Water tank sealing in detail.
Calcareous soil and elevated uneven terrain
Limestone soil causes chemical corrosion of concrete, especially where water pools. The elevated uneven topography makes drainage weak and water persists around the tank for long periods.
New mains water rich in calcium and contaminants
Water from new boreholes carries high concentrations of dissolved calcium and minerals. These deposit on the internal surface causing uneven corrosion and cracking.
Poor drainage and water pooling in uneven terrain
Elevated uneven ground and emerging water courses create poor drainage. Water pools around tanks especially after rain and irrigation, increasing pressure on walls and floor.
Usaylah on the map
Usaylah sits about 2.5 km from Badr and about 4 km from Maqam.
Open in Google MapsWhat we read before any material is opened
A large master planned suburban project west of Al Sharai, north of the Fourth Ring Road, between Wadi Jalil to the north and Al Muaysim and Badr to the south. The area comprises the Usaylah Suburb and Rawabi Al Usaylah schemes on elevated uneven terrain with serviced plots, many of them still vacant and undeveloped.
Cracking in the wall
Dissolved calcium and minerals deposit a layer on floor and walls then corrode due to the acidity of calcareous soil.
The floor to wall joint
Salt and limestone matter in the soil penetrate the concrete from below and sides, especially on elevated terrain.
The condition of the old lining
Fine cracks from hydrostatic pressure of pooled water around the tank expand with calcium and salt deposits.
Sediment and scale
High moisture from poor drainage and water pooling in uneven ground persists around the tank year-round.
The pipe entries
Foundations on uneven terrain shift and move, stressing tank joints and causing wall cracks.
The hatch and the vent
Pipe joints and seams face additional pressure from water pooling around the tank, speeding leaks from inlet and outlet points.
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.
The character of Usaylah
New development: ongoing construction and vacant plots between the homes
A new development quarter means modern buildings but uneven terrain and difficult soil. Sealing must protect against hydrostatic pressure, calcium and salt together, and good external drainage is critical to long-term sealing success.
Questions about this district
Why do Usaylah tanks need more sealing than other quarters?
The soil is calcareous and mains water is rich in calcium and minerals that corrode concrete. Poor drainage keeps water pooling around the tank constantly.
Does water calcium deposit on the tank or corrode it?
It deposits first but creates uneven corrosion. When combined with soil acidity it causes deep chemical corrosion.
Does uneven elevated terrain increase leak risk?
Yes significantly. Poor drainage and pooled water increase hydrostatic pressure on tank walls from outside and speed leaks.
Is internal lining enough or must the outside be protected too?
Both sides must be protected. Internal lining guards against internal water and external insulation protects against soil moisture and salt.
Does improving drainage around the tank reduce sealing needs?
Good drainage is important but not a substitute for sealing. Even with good drainage concrete needs protection from calcium and salt.
Does a new scheme mean new tanks with fewer problems?
The scheme is new but soil and water are difficult here. New tanks may leak faster because hard water corrodes them from the start.
How much does water tank sealing in Usaylah 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 Usaylah.
Other services in Usaylah
Other services we provide to residents of Usaylah.
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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 Usaylah? Tell us what you saw and we will tell you what it needs
We reach Usaylah at a time we agree, and you get the full cost before we start.