The right gear for drinking water
Pumps to clear sludge, scrubbing to remove biofilm, and disinfectant meant for potable storage.
Water Tank Cleaning in Al Mazloom, Jeddah
Al Mazloom is one of four historic quarters inside the old walled city, with tightly packed heritage stone and timber buildings in the roshan style, narrow winding lanes and a dense ancient urban fabric. Tanks here are old and shared among several flats, and the pipework is older than the tank itself. A site inspection will not tell you what is inside the tank until you open it, and the sediment builds up thick and dark. What you see from outside does not match what sits at the bottom.
- A team arrives, not one worker
- Price agreed before we start
- Our own pumps and disinfectant
- Rechecked before we refill
What changes about water tank cleaning in Al Mazloom
The shared tank in Al Mazloom may be older than the building itself or fitted into a narrow space between adjoining roofs. For the method itself, see how we approach water tank cleaning.
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The first reason
Very old pipework feeding the tank is layered with rust and scale
Pipes in these old quarters are rarely replaced because they run deep inside walls and are difficult to extract. Rust and lime scale deposit on the inside, so water passes through a layer of corrosion before entering the tank. Sediment begins in the pipework, not just the tank, and by the time water sits in the tank it has already carried particles.
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The second reason
Shared tank serving multiple floors draws water unevenly
Old buildings have flats from ground to third or fourth floor, and water rises through narrow vertical pipes. Upper floors pull water with more force and stir sediment from the bottom, while ground floor flats draw water darker and muddier than those above, the worst in the cycle.
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The third reason
Old roofs and poor seals let moisture and debris into the tank
Old tanks on the roofs of historic quarters may sit under wooden covers or have no seal at all. Humidity, dust, leaves and small animals enter the tank easily from above, and the tank atmosphere stays damp and contaminated even between water uses.
What water tank cleaning covers in Al Mazloom
Al Mazloom lies in the north east of Al Balad, home to heritage stone and timber buildings in the roshan style, with Al Shafii Mosque and Souk Al Jami nearby, a very dense and very old urban fabric.
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Tank checked before we start
Tank inspection in Al Mazloom reveals thick black sediment and sometimes internal rust, with walls covered in a sticky layer of algae and mineral scale.
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Old water drained out
Draining old water from an Al Mazloom tank produces very dark black water, and the smell is often unpleasant from deep sediment accumulated over many years.
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Sediment vacuumed from the bottom
Sediment vacuumed from the floor of this old quarter's tank removes a large volume of thick black sludge and suspended matter built up across decades.
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Walls and floor scrubbed
Manual scrubbing of walls and floor in such an old tank requires considerable effort to remove thick layers and deeply rooted algae and biofilm.
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Interior surfaces disinfected
Disinfecting interior surfaces in an Al Mazloom tank kills bacteria and fungi accumulated over years inside the old tank and ancient pipework.
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Final rinse and lid check
Final rinse and lid check in Al Mazloom ensures the tank is sealed against small animals and dust entering from deteriorating roofs in this very old quarter.
Not included
- Repairing cracks, leaks or a failed tank wall
- Plumbing, pump or float-valve repair and replacement
- Replacing the tank or refitting a broken lid
- Treating the quality of the water supplied to the tank
How a tank is actually cleaned
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1
Isolate and drain fully
The supply into the tank is shut and the tank is drained completely.
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2
Remove the sediment by hand
The sludge on the floor is scooped and pumped out first.
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3
Scrub walls and floor bare
The biofilm on the walls is physically scrubbed off.
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4
Disinfect the bare surfaces
With the walls and floor clean, a disinfectant made for drinking-water storage is applied and given time to act on every surface.
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5
Rinse and pump clear
The disinfectant and any loosened residue are rinsed down and pumped out, so the first tank of water after us is not carrying it.
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6
Check the lid, then refill with you
We check the cover seal and inlet before refilling, so dust and insects stay out, then start the refill while you watch it run clear.
The character of Al Mazloom
Historic district: close-set buildings, narrow lanes and ageing services
Historic in Al Mazloom means the tank, pipes and roofs are all very old, so sediment is thick, rust is deep and contamination has accumulated over decades. Cleaning takes longer and may require follow-up monitoring.
Why us for this job in particular
A team, done in one visit
We send a team, not one person, so a tank is drained, cleaned, disinfected and refilled in a single visit rather than left open for days.
We check the cause, not just the tank
We look at the lid seal and inlet, because a tank that got dirty fast usually has a way in.
You watch it refill clear
Nothing is closed until the tank is refilling and you have seen the water run clean.
From our work
Photographs from real jobs carried out by the crew.
The job is not closed before you approve it
The commitment is simple enough to actually keep: we do not leave until the tank is disinfected, refilling, and you have seen it for yourself.
What is different about Central Jeddah
Central Jeddah is the old heart of the city: Al Balad with its coral stone houses, and the dense apartment quarters around it with shops beneath the flats. Floors here are often terrazzo or older ceramic tile, worn smooth and easily stained by cooking grease that drifts up from the street. Older kitchens and bathrooms carry heavy scale on taps and around drains, and pipework in the older blocks leaves rust marks in basins. Rugs and curtains take on the fine black dust of the main roads, so they need washing more often than elsewhere.
Questions about water tank cleaning in Al Mazloom
Does an old tank in Al Mazloom need more than one cleaning?
Perhaps. A very old tank may need engineering inspection after cleaning if we find cracks or heavy internal rust. The first clean may warrant a follow-up check a month later.
Is water from a cleaned old tank in an old district safe to drink immediately?
Yes, after full disinfection and final rinsing the water is completely safe. However, you may notice a light tint in the first few days from the old pipes themselves, which cannot be replaced easily.
Should old pipes in Al Mazloom be replaced after tank cleaning?
We recommend replacement, but the decision rests with the building owner or association. Cleaning improves the water, but rusty pipes will begin to shed sediment again in time.
How long does cleaning a very old heavily contaminated tank take?
Usually three to four hours. Thick sediment requires extra time for vacuuming, scrubbing, disinfection and thorough rinsing.
Do ground and upper floor flats get equally clean water after tank cleaning?
After cleaning and full rinsing, yes, everyone gets clean water equally. However, if pressure problems persist, upper floors may receive slightly less clear water.
Do tanks in a historic district like Al Mazloom need more frequent cleaning?
Yes, old pipes, deteriorating roofs and poor seals mean cleaning every six months rather than once yearly is advisable for long-term water safety.
Can you clean a rooftop tank with a small opening?
Usually yes. A tight rooftop unit with a narrow hatch takes more care and time than a wide ground tank, but the cleaning is the same. Access is one of the things we ask about up front so the price and duration are right before we come.
How often should a tank be cleaned?
On a regular cycle rather than once and forgotten, and sooner if you notice grit, a taste or a cloudy tint.
How much does water tank cleaning in Al Mazloom cost?
It is set after the inspection, because it follows the size of the job, the materials involved and their condition. Send photos on WhatsApp and we will give you an estimate before we reach Al Mazloom.
Other services in Al Mazloom
We provide these in Al Mazloom too, and more than one can share a single visit.
