Climate change is affecting many things these days, even some that are very unexpected.
As temperatures increase across the country, it is having detrimental effects not just on natural water supplies and biological habitats, but even the quality of water held in some water storage tanks - and for a very interesting reason.
Sediment in Water Tanks Must Be Removed
How often do you have water tank inspections done and how frequently does water storage tank maintenance involve removing the sediment?
If your tanks have not been regularly drained to have the sediment removed and the insides of the tanks cleaned, this could be endangering the entire population serviced by this water.
Older Water Storage Tanks Have Greater Problems
Recent studies on pathogens that can contaminate water storage tanks and then affect entire communities are making a very interesting, and unexpected connection between climate change and older storage tanks that may not be receiving as much maintenance as they should be.
Higher temperatures, which are heating the contents of water storage tanks higher than usual, are creating perfect breeding grounds for pathogens in the sediment in the bottoms of these tanks.
Older Water Storage Tanks and Increasing Climatic Temperatures
Yet higher temperature is not the only factor in this connection; the problem is also related to water tank maintenance or lack thereof.
The condition is being noted in older water storage tanks that have been around for decades while receiving little if any water storage tank maintenance to address sediment.
Older Water Storage Tanks Getting Less Maintenance
Startlingly, many water tank inspectors are reporting that they continually see tanks that have been in service since as early as the 1940’s without once being taken offline to be drained, have the sediment removed and the insides washed out.
Essentially, some of these tanks have 75-year old pathogen-breeding sediment in their bottoms and along the inner surfaces, contaminating the water supply.
Older Water Storage Tanks and Sediment Removal
Sediment removal is a critical part of water storage tank maintenance to keep water supplies contaminant-free.
Even when pathogen control measures like chlorine and other water treatments are used, failure to periodically empty and clean these vessels still allows for the presence of dangerous, and potentially deadly microorganisms that must be removed from the potable water supply.
Need For Consistent Water Storage Tank Maintenance
Water tank inspections should occur on schedule and maintenance performed regularly, especially in older tanks that have been in service for long periods.
With climate change now a contributing factor to water contamination concerns, the need to keep all potable water storage tanks sediment and contaminant free has never been greater.