Water Storage Tank Maintenance: Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Preventing Algae
Quick Answer TL;DR: A water storage tank — whether for emergency reserves, rainwater harvesting, or off-grid living — is only as good as its maintenance. Clean and inspect your tank at least once a year, and sanitize with a bleach solution whenever you notice algae, biofilm, or an odd taste or odor. The three pillars of water quality in storage are: (1) keep light out — algae needs light to grow; (2) keep the tank sealed — bugs, dust, and debris degrade water; (3) rotate your water — standing water grows bacteria, so use and refill it on a schedule. ...