The condition of a cold water storage tank has a big effect on the quality of the water in your building. A planned maintenance programme finds problems early, keeps your tanks compliant, and gives you the records to prove it.
Water Hygiene Services provides planned cold water storage tank maintenance for estates managers, facilities managers and building and property managers across Leeds and West Yorkshire. Our work follows HSG274, supporting ACoP L8, and protects both refurbished and newly installed tanks.
What is cold water storage tank maintenance?
HSG274 expects cold water storage tanks to be inspected at least once a year. Maintenance means inspecting each tank, dealing with what is found, and keeping the records. Poor maintenance lets sediment and biofilm build up, and allows bacteria, including Legionella, to grow. Inspecting and maintaining your tanks is part of meeting your legal duties as duty holder.
What does a tank maintenance programme include?
- A Legionella risk check of each tank and its surroundings.
- A visual inspection of the lid, screens, overflow, insulation, inlet and outlet pipework.
- A water temperature reading, and a water sample for laboratory analysis where your risk assessment calls for it.
- Cleaning and disinfection where inspection shows it is needed.
- A written report of what was found and what needs doing.
- The tank record updated, so your documents are complete and ready for inspection.
What problems do regular inspections find?
- A build-up of sludge or sediment
- Poor flow through the tank, so water stands for too long
- Damaged lids or missing insect screens
- Poor insulation or lagging on pipework
- An ineffective overflow
- Corrosion or ageing tank materials
What are the benefits of a maintenance programme?
- Contamination is found and dealt with before it becomes a problem
- Tanks last longer when they are examined regularly
- Your tanks stay in line with HSG274 and British Standards
- You receive the annual reports and records that auditors and inspectors expect
How is tank maintenance different from a tank clean?
A tank clean is a one-off job to remove contamination that has already built up. Tank maintenance is the planned programme that stops it building up in the first place. Many sites need both: a clean to put a neglected tank right, then a programme to keep it right. See our tank cleaning and disinfection page.
Where we work
We provide tank maintenance across Leeds and West Yorkshire, and from our base in Leeds across roughly 100 miles along the M62 corridor.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a cold water tank be inspected?
HSG274 expects cold water storage tanks to be inspected at least once a year. Your risk assessment may call for more, particularly in healthcare, schools and care settings.
Can you look after tanks across several buildings?
Yes. We can put a portfolio of tanks on one programme, with consistent records across every site.
What if an inspection finds a problem?
We tell you what we found and recommend the next step, such as a clean and disinfection, repairs or remedial works. See our related pages.
Contact us for a Free Quote
Very happy with their very high standard of work Water Hygiene Services have been carrying out legionella risk assessments for us for a couple of years now. We have been very happy with their very high standard of work, their ability to work to tight deadlines and the general professional service they provide
