Causes of Contaminated Water in Storage Tanks: Prevention & Solutions

Water storage tanks can be used by families or communities to provide drinking water or for irrigation purposes, but many contaminants can cause water to go bad.

Bacteria

• Bacteria can infiltrate open storage tanks from animal droppings and other means, and quickly grow in the water. The bacteria make it dangerous to drink and cause the water to have a foul odor or develop a layer of slime on the surface. Drinking water contaminated with bacteria can cause severe cramping, diarrhea and vomiting,

Algae

• If the water storage tank is exposed to sunlight, then it could become the breeding ground for algae. Algae can grow quickly in sunlight and cause a green slime to form over the surface. Algae itself is not dangerous but, through photosynthesis, algae uses the sun to create food and, in turn, drops waste products into the water on which bacteria like to feed.

Minerals

• Water has various mineral deposits including iron and sulfur that can settle to the bottom of the tank over time. As the old water is taken out and replaced with new water, it can form a sludge on the bottom of the tank that can cause the water to smell or taste bad, especially if the sediment is disturbed.