Tank Inspection Best Practices: Avoiding Compliance Violations in Water Storage Tank Maintenance
If your municipality or water utility is responsible for maintaining potable water tanks, you know that skipping routine tank inspection isn’t just a maintenance issue—it’s a potential compliance violation and public health risk. In fact, improper water tank inspection has been linked to serious contamination events, such as the 1994 Missouri salmonella outbreak traced to an elevated water tower contaminated by birds.
Whether you’re overseeing fire protection systems, drinking water, or raw water storage, following strict inspection requirements and tank maintenance standards is the best way to protect your water system and avoid fines, failures, or worse.
This guide outlines best practices for storage tank inspection, cleaning, and reporting—based on Missouri DNR guidelines, AWWA standards, and industry compliance expectations like OSHA, EPA, and NFPA 25.
1. Hire Qualified Inspectors — Not Just Painters with a Rope
One of the most common causes of substandard inspections is hiring the wrong people. There’s no national certification for tank inspectors, so it’s up to facility owners to vet vendors thoroughly.
When choosing a provider for water tank inspection services, ensure they:
- Specialize in potable water tanks, fire protection tanks, and ROV inspections
- Can inspect structural integrity, corrosion, coatings, and tank interiors
- Provide full-color inspection reports with actionable findings
- Follow confined space protocols and carry appropriate insurance
For cost-effective inspections of tanks in service, consider vendors who use ROVs (remotely operated vehicles) for interior visuals. Submersible ROV inspection helps avoid draining tanks unnecessarily and meets safety requirements.
2. Conduct Regular Inspections Across All Key Areas
To remain compliant, you should follow these routine inspection intervals and scope guidelines:
| Area of Focus | Frequency | Key Inspection Items |
|---|---|---|
| Sanitary Conditions | Annually | Vents, hatches, overflow pipe, animal intrusion, roof leaks |
| Structural Integrity | Annually | Anchor bolts, wind rods, tank walls, column shoes, settlement signs |
| Safety & Security | Annually | OSHA-compliant ladders, fall protection, locked hatches |
| Coating Systems | Every 2–5 Years | Pitting, adhesion, blistering, delamination, coating failures |
| General Details | As Needed | Tank dimensions, overflow pipe capacity, record accuracy |
For systems that only have one tank, coordinate tank repairs or cleaning with temporary pressure tanks or variable speed drive pumps to maintain service continuity.
3. Provide Thorough Inspection Reports
A proper inspection report doesn’t just document deficiencies—it captures the complete condition of the tank. Include:
- Photographs of all structural, sanitary, and coating conditions
- Notes on corrosion, pitting, and any visible leaks
- Details about adhesion testing, lead levels, and total film thickness
- Recommendations for corrective action
- Confirmation that confined space safety procedures were followed
Don’t assume “no comment” means good condition. If something isn’t mentioned, demand clarification.
4. Disinfect and Clean After Entry or Repairs
Water tank cleaning is not optional after someone enters the tank or structural work is performed. Missouri law (10 CSR 60-4.080) requires disinfection prior to returning any finished water storage tank to service.
Best practices include:
- Using chlorine spray to disinfect tank interiors without creating excess wastewater
- Cleaning tank walls, floors, and roofs thoroughly—even if inspection is visual only
- Coordinating wastewater discharge with sewer treatment authorities to prevent wastewater overflows or treatment failures
5. Maintain Accurate and Accessible Records
Every water system should maintain detailed, dated inspection records for each water storage tank. These records should include:
- Dates of annual inspections
- Visual inspection notes
- Structural or tank interior changes
- Cleaning and disinfection logs
- Communication with outside contractors
This ensures both readiness for regulatory review and informed planning for tank repairs or replacement.
Closing Thoughts
Whether your tank serves drinking water, fire suppression, or water supply applications, staying compliant requires more than a checklist—it demands a strategic commitment to safety, structure, and water quality.
By hiring qualified inspectors, using modern tools like ROVs, and documenting everything from adhesion to overflow pipe design, your organization can avoid violations, extend the life of your infrastructure, and protect public health.
For more guidance, refer to AWWA standards, API, and NFPA 25 specifications—or contact your state DNR for region-specific requirements.
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