Proper Maintenance of Tank Water Systems
The Department of Health recommends a program of regular preventative maintenance to keep your tank water supply clean. Here a few recommended tips and procedures.
Roof Catchment
1. Keep the roof clean and painted. Before cleaning or painting your roof, make sure to block all drain pipes so that nothing enters the tank.
2. To clean the roof, power wash or use a wire brush to remove old paint and fungal growth.
3. Before applying paint, wash the roof with a 50/50 solution of regular unscented household bleach and water and then apply an approved roof catchment paint. Do not remove the drain plugs until the paint has dried and until after the first rain shower.
4. Trim any overhanging trees to prevent leaves from entering your tank. Use wire “pineapples” on gutter pipes to block the entry of leaves. They will require periodic cleaning to remove clogged debris.
Water Tank
1. Screen any vents or overflows to your tank with fine mesh wire to prevent insects etc. from entering the tank. Make sure the tank top is tight fitting.
2. Clean the tank as needed. By law water tanks must be cleaned every six years to remove any accumulation of sludge. Dirt and decayed organic matter contained in the sludge may promote stagnation of the water resulting in foul smells.
3. Every 3 months, disinfect the tank supply using 2 – 4 oz of regular unscented bleach for every 1000 gallons of water. Only undertake chlorination if the tank is clean because organic matter will interfere with the disinfection process and may cause harmful by-products to be formed. The formulae for calculating the amount of water in the tank is: tank length x tank width x tank
depth x 6.25 = tank capacity in imperial gallons.
4. Aerate the water if there has been very little turnover or it has a bad smell. You can do this by running your garden hose to the top of the roof and allowing the water to drain back into the tank. This procedure may require at least a few hours to complete for ample turnover. The water must first be chlorinated before starting the aeration process for maximum effectiveness on stagnant water.
Letters of objection and/or representation should be emailed to planningfrontdesk@gov.bm referencing the PLAN or SUB number in the subject line.