Water Tank Maintenance Frequently Asked Questions

Tanks may need to be cleaned at any time of the year when dead animals, debris build-up, or illness (possibly due to bacteria) occurs. However, cleaning your tank before Spring and summer will help avoid potential issues where bacteria will breed during those hot months.

We recommend an annual cleaning and sanitisation of your drinking water tank/s. This will help reduce the amount of water wastage and keep the costs of maintaining your tank down. The more sediment build-up, the longer it takes to remove, and the more water required.

No. Please don’t!

The more water, the better, except if the water is contaminated (in which case we will be required to drain the tank, clean, and sterilise it before refilling).

We need water in the tank to vacuum the sludge from the floor. The tank doesn’t need to be completely full, but it must have at least one-third or one meter of water.

A Water Sanitiser is a product used to neutralise bacteria and water borne viruses. There are various products available on the market, the most common which are Chlorine based. For rainwater tanks, we do not recommend using a Chlorine based water sanitiser in your tanks.

The Pristine Water Systems water sanitiser, AqueousPro™ 50, is a professional grade Water Sanitiser used to purify drinking water from contamination that can occur in water tanks and similar applications.

It is not Chlorine-based!

The active ingredients of AqueousPro™ 50 are included by the National Health & Medical Research Council for use in Drinking Water and is listed in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines as chemicals available for use in the treatment of drinking water.

Environmentally friendly and ecologically harmless, AqueousPro™ 50 (once diluted) is completely safe to drink and does not pollute wastewater systems as the chemical reaction breaks down into water (H₂O) and Oxygen (O₂).

If you would like to learn more about how AqueousPro™ 50 achieves this, Click Here

You can use our Water Tank Volume Calculator to calculate how much water your tank holds.

Measure the width and height of your tank and enter the numbers into the calculator. If your tank is rectangular, measure the depth as well.

Filters are composed of a variety of media (substance(s)) designed to trap, absorb, or modify impurities as water flows through them. There are many different types of filter media available. Some mechanically trap pollutants with an ultra-fine sieve or strainer, while others use a process called absorption in which contaminants are retained within the microscopic pores of the medium.

There are two types of filter ratings: nominal and absolute.

A nominal rating indicates the smallest particle size that the filter should remove or reduce in accordance with its design criteria. It is an estimated value, not a precise one. A 1 Micron nominal filter, for example, should trap 95 percent of all particles 1 micron or larger.

An absolute filter rating is a certified reduction rate, usually 99.9 per cent. Therefore, a 1 Micron absolute filter will remove 99.9 per cent of particles that are 1 micron or larger in diameter.

Sediment filters are like a fine sieve that traps dirt and other suspended particles. Using a sediment filter as a pre-filter to a purifier will provide additional protection from damage and extend its life because it will take longer to become clogged with unwanted contaminants. Sediment filters range from coarse to fine and are micron-rated accordingly. The life of a sediment filter depends on the quality and source of the water – six to twelve months is average.

Activated carbon filters are particularly effective at removing pollutants that create unpleasant taste, odour, and colour in water. These fast-acting filters can eliminate or reduce the levels of chlorine by-products, pesticides, herbicides, and other organic and industrial chemicals. Activated carbon is made from various organic materials such as coal, coconut, lignite, and wood. When these are activated by exposure to high temperatures in the absence of oxygen, the result is a substance with millions of microscopic pores and a vast surface area, E.g. 1 gram of activated carbon has a surface area of more than 500m2 to cling to or absorb smaller organic molecules. There are two forms of carbon in general use: granular and block. Carbon granules are about the size of coarse sand, while carbon block is finely powdered carbon compressed into a solid mass. To get the most out of a carbon filter, it should be kept free of sediment and heavy organic impurities by incorporating a sediment filter as an integral part of the system design. Filter cartridges should be replaced regularly, depending on the quality and source of the water.

Ceramic water filtration relies on the small pore size of ceramic material to effectively filter sediments such as dirt and debris. Some models can reduce particle matter as fine as 0.9 microns absolute, effectively removing bacteria, cysts, and turbidity. The filter has a hollow core of ceramic, which can be cleaned using a scouring pad (like 3M ‘Scotchbrite’) when the filter flow becomes noticeably less than normal. In addition, some ceramic filters are also fitted with an activated carbon block core to remove chlorine and organic compounds whilst improving taste and reducing odours.

Osmosis is a process that occurs when two solutions of different concentrations are separated by a semi-permeable membrane. Reverse osmosis (RO) water purification works by forcing the water under pressure against an ultra-fine semi-permeable membrane designed to allow single water molecules to permeate through, while simultaneously sending to waste most contaminants. The membrane acts as a mechanical filter, straining out particulate matter, micro-organisms, asbestos, and even single molecules of heavier organic compounds. A typical RO purifier consists of four series of filters plus a storage tank.

• Stage 1. Sediment / pre-filter mechanical filtration. Removes suspended particles such as silt, algae, rust, and dirt.
• Stage 2. Carbon pre-filter, protects the Membrane from chlorine.
• Stage 3. Ultra-fine TFC RO Membrane, high performance 140 Litre per day, pore size 0.0005 micron.
• Stage 4. Carbon polishing post-filter provides superb tasting water.

An RO system removes a wide spectrum of impurities from water, such as fluoride, chlorine, heavy metals, cysts, turbidity, sediment, colloidal matter, total dissolved solids, toxic metals, radioactive elements, pesticides, and herbicides. It also improves taste and odour.

An RO system requires approximately 280 kpa (40 psi) inlet water pressure. A typical system produces water at a slow rate—almost drop by drop—so most under-sink systems have a pressurised storage tank and a separate dedicated faucet or all-in-one three-way mixer installed on the sink.

Water drawn from the faucet or mixer comes from the storage tank. A countertop or laundry system works the same way except without a pressurised tank.

Instead, these systems attach directly to an existing faucet and are used to fill a bottle or glass directly from the system. These systems are suited for use when renting, unable to plumb a system in, or for travel.

The average domestic RO will use about 40 litres per day to flush contaminants – average household consumption is around 1000 litres per day. Unlike filters, RO membranes don’t accumulate pollutants, but they gradually degrade with use. While the sediment and carbon filters will generally require replacement annually, membranes should be changed every 3 years or as specified by the manufacturers.

Choosing a filtration system is a personal choice and depends on a variety of situations and requirements.

• Water source, e.g. Town (mains), Tank, Bore/Spring, etc.
• Types of impurities that need to be removed, e.g., sediment, chlorine, fluoride, etc.
• Purpose of water e.g. Drinking, cleaning, gardens

• Sediment – removes sand, dirt and rust
• Carbon – Removal of toxic chemicals, chlorine taste and odour, giardia and cryptosporidium
• Carbon / Silver Impregnated – Ideal for tank water, removes odours, improves taste, silver impregnated to inhibit bacteria growth within the filter
• Ceramic – (Ultracarb) Removal of bacteria and tannin, improves taste and removes odours
• Reverse Osmosis (RO) – Removal of all chemicals, heavy metals and minerals and fluoride.
• Alkaliser – Raises pH levels to alkaline

We strongly recommend that you change your filter/cartridges regularly. Generally, the average family household filter/cartridge requires replacement annually. If the water flow from the system noticeably reduces, it may be due for service (or requires to be cleaned/scrubbed, such as a ceramic cartridge). Used Water filter cartridge holds all the chemicals, heavy metals, bacteria, etc, that have been removed from your water during the past 12 months; using the cartridge past this due date may cause bacteria to re-contaminate the cartridge and possibly be reintroduced into your drinking water. Please feel free to call our friendly Customer Service team should you require assistance.

Pristine Water Systems conducts a series of simple water tests on-site to establish whether further investigation is required. These tests include:

• pH levels
• TDS (sediment) count
• Iron
• Hardness

For Bore/Spear and Dam/Creek water, we can conduct a 49-point laboratory test to analyse metals and other elements present in the water. Lab tests are available for a fee.

All stored water (tanks) will have some degree of bacteria present. You can organise a complete bacteria water test through your local council. Your local Pristine Water Systems operator can advise what is required.

But if you have water storage tanks, then we recommend installing a filter/ultraviolet system that will remove cysts and 99.99% of all bacteria from your water instead of paying for a water test to show that you will have bacteria in your tank.

Bacteria, imbalances in water and many of the nasty elements that can harm your health, cannot be seen by the naked eye when you visually evaluate your water supply.

Just because your water is clear does not mean it is healthy to drink!

We recommend that you test and check your water supply and supply system regularly. Don’t just look for dirty or smelly water to be your reason for testing water. At that point, it is already too late.

Yes. We can conduct a test on any water source.

An initial review and testing can be conducted on premises to establish if further investigation is required. From there, we can organise a complete 49-point laboratory test. Fees are involved for Laboratory tests.

A complete laboratory test is not required regularly. Initially, we will need to establish the quality of your water source and determine if any filtration/correction systems are required.

We will then test the water on each visit, either when servicing filtration products or on an annual tank clean.

Even though your water might be clear or you haven’t been sick in a very long time, this doesn’t mean that your water is perfectly healthy to drink for visitors or other family members.

Water tests/analysis will provide you with an understanding of what you are putting into your body each time you drink, brush your teeth or shower.

Knowing what is in your water will answer what you need to do to ensure Pristine clear drinking water in the future.