Water tank cleaning in Abu Dhabi: what the Code requires, step by step
A practical walk-through of the Code of Practice for the Inspection and Cleaning of Customer Water Storage Tanks: who is responsible, how cleaning must be done, when water must be tested, and what records building owners keep.
In Abu Dhabi, building owners or their registered managers must have every drinking water storage tank cleaned and disinfected at least at the frequency set by the Regulation and Supervision Bureau's Code of Practice, by a qualified and registered company. The Code sets the cleaning method, approved food-grade disinfectants, notices to residents in Arabic and English, laboratory limits after cleaning, re-cleaning within 48 hours when results fail, and five-year record keeping. Power Zone cleans and disinfects tanks across the emirate with its own trained teams.
Updated 16 October 2026. Every rule in this guide links to its official source at the end of the page.
Key facts
- Who is responsible: the Code names the building owner or registered building manager or agent as the Responsible Person for cleaning, disinfection, inspection and sampling of customer water storage tanks.
- Notice before cleaning: residents and tenants must be told two days in advance, in Arabic and English, including how long the water will be off.
- Failed inspection or test: a Responsible Company must be engaged to clean and disinfect within 48 hours, and residents must be told not to drink the water; after a non-compliant test result, within two hours.
- Disinfectants: food-grade sodium hypochlorite or calcium hypochlorite, or another disinfectant approved by the Bureau, left on internal surfaces for at least 30 minutes.
- Testing: concrete underground tanks, ground tanks and all tanks larger than 100 m3 must always be tested after cleaning; results for bacteria within three days and for Legionella within six days.
- Records: inspection and sampling reports are kept for five years and made available to the Municipality and the Bureau on request.
Why this Code matters
Most buildings in Abu Dhabi do not drink straight from the public network. Water passes through storage tanks first, underground, at ground level or on the roof, and the quality of that water depends on how those tanks are looked after. The Regulation and Supervision Bureau issued the Code of Practice for the Inspection and Cleaning of Customer Water Storage Tanks to set one standard for that care across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The Code came into force on 1 January 2015 and was issued under Article 55 of Law No (2) of 1998.
The Code applies to registered building owners or their registered managers or agents, and to every person or company that inspects, samples, tests, cleans or disinfects customer water storage tanks. It applies only to customer water storage tanks as the Code defines them. This page walks through the Code in the order a building manager meets it: responsibilities, frequency, contamination signs, notices, the 48-hour rule, the cleaning method, chemicals, testing, safety, staff competence and records. For the wider picture of maintenance rules in the emirate, see the Abu Dhabi maintenance guide.
Who does what under the Code
The Code uses two defined roles that appear throughout. The Responsible Person is the building owner or the registered building manager or agent. The Responsible Company is the company engaged to clean, disinfect, inspect or sample the tanks. The Code's responsibilities diagram also gives roles to the Bureau, the municipalities and the distribution companies.
| Stakeholder | Main responsibilities under the Code |
|---|---|
| Regulation and Supervision Bureau | Develops and issues the Code; regulatory direction and oversight; receives feedback and updates the Code |
| Municipalities | Oversee and enforce the Code; carry out site inspections and audits; manage the pre-qualification and registration scheme; keep a central database of tanks, cleaning and inspection records |
| Distribution companies | Support municipalities with inspections; respond to reports of water quality issues, leakage, overflow or supply isolation; help resolve non-compliance |
| Responsible Person (owner or manager) | Ensure cleaning, disinfection, inspection and sampling; engage a qualified and registered company; keep records and make them available to the authorities |
| Responsible Company | Be qualified and registered; follow the Code; notify customers of cleaning; keep records and report results; train and assess staff; report water quality problems, leaks or overflows |
The practical consequence for owners is clear: the duty sits with you even when you outsource the work. Hiring a company does not transfer the responsibility; it gives you a qualified partner to discharge it, and the paperwork that proves you did.
How often tanks must be cleaned
The Code requires the Responsible Person to ensure regular and routine cleaning and disinfection of every tank on the premises, at least at the minimum frequency in its Table 5.1.1, which applies to residential and commercial buildings. The frequencies below are quoted in the Code's own words.
| Tank material | Location | Minimum cleaning and disinfection frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete | Underground | Bi-annually |
| Concrete | Ground | Bi-annually |
| Concrete | Roof | Annually |
| Plastic | Ground | Annually |
| Plastic | Roof | Annually |
| FRP | Ground | Annually |
| FRP | Roof | Annually |
| GRP | Ground | Bi-annually |
| GRP | Roof | Annually |
| GI or GS | Ground | Annually |
| GI or GS | Roof | Annually |
The Code adds a note that in December 2012 the Bureau banned the construction of underground (buried) tanks in low-rise residential buildings. It also notes that a tank in continuous use and subject to regular cleaning and disinfection can be put back into service without waiting for water sample results. These are minimums: a tank must also be cleaned whenever inspection finds signs of contamination or a test fails, as the next sections explain.
Signs of contamination inspectors look for
Inspections are carried out randomly by municipality inspectors, or by inspectors appointed by the municipality or the Bureau, based on a risk assessment. Beyond checking cleaning records, inspectors visually inspect every tank on the premises, underground, ground or roof, for common signs of contamination. The Code's Table 5.2.1 lists them:
| Where | Signs listed in the Code |
|---|---|
| Tank interior | Sediment or sludge; algae growth; micro-film or oils; dead animals or insects; extensive corrosion |
| Tank surroundings | Nearby oil, chemical or sewage leak; tank opening uncovered; algal growth around the tank opening or manhole; accumulation of dirt around the tank |
Where inspectors find signs of contamination, the Code requires the Responsible Person to start cleaning and disinfection of the affected tank. A useful habit, offered as guidance, is to look for the same signs yourself between cleans: lift the cover where it is safe to do so, check the lid seal and vents, and keep the area around the tank clean and dry. Most of the surroundings items on the list are within a building manager's control every day.
Notices to residents: before, during and after
The Code is unusually specific about communication, because residents are drinking the water. Its notice requirements are:
- Two days before cleaning: notify all residents or tenants of the planned date and time and of any precautions to protect their health and safety, including how long the water supply will be shut down. The notice is delivered to their premises or door and posted at all common entry points.
- Languages: notices in Arabic and English, or in additional languages as required.
- Timing of the work: cleaning and disinfection during normal working days and hours, as far as practicable, so residents are not disturbed.
- After cleaning: a public notice that cleaning is complete, when it is safe to use the water for domestic purposes, and any precautions, such as running taps or showers for at least five minutes after cleaning, or as advised by the company.
The Code's step-by-step cleaning guideline repeats the point from the contractor's side: tenants are notified of the proposed cleaning date and time at least 48 hours before, and the crew posts notices on arrival with the expected duration and the precautions to take. In practice, a good contractor drafts the bilingual notices for the building manager, so both sides meet the requirement with one document.
When a test fails: the 48-hour rule
The Code builds in fast, defined responses when something goes wrong:
| Trigger | What the Code requires |
|---|---|
| Non-compliant inspection or sampling result | Responsible Person engages a Responsible Company to clean and disinfect within 48 hours of the inspection date and time |
| Non-compliant inspection result | All residents and tenants notified by public notice in common areas and on each tenant's door not to drink the water or use it for food preparation or other drinking water uses |
| Non-compliant water test result | Residents and tenants told the water is unfit for use and to refrain from using it until further notice, as soon as reasonably practicable and at least within two hours of receiving the result |
| Water sample exceeds the Code's limits | An approved and registered Responsible Company immediately engaged to clean and disinfect within a 48-hour period |
| Retest after cleaning not compliant | Repeat cleaning and disinfection within 48 hours and tell tenants the water is not safe for drinking, with the next cleaning date and time |
The Code also requires non-compliant inspection or sampling results to be documented and reported in writing to the relevant distribution company and municipality. For building managers, the lesson is preparation: know which company you will call, keep bilingual notice templates ready, and have a plan for supplying residents with drinking water while the tank is out of use.
The cleaning procedure, step by step
Part 9 of the Code sets out how accessible tanks are cleaned and disinfected. Condensed, its guideline runs as follows:
- Secure access and authorisations, and notify tenants at least 48 hours before cleaning.
- Shut the inlet valve at least 24 hours before cleaning so as much water as possible is used, reducing waste.
- Prepare equipment, chemicals, concentrations and personal protective equipment off-site, before cleaning.
- On site, notify residents of the cleaning, the expected duration and the precautions to take, and place safety barriers where required.
- Turn off the inlet if not already done, and lock out and tag out all tank inlets and outlets, with signs that they must not be opened.
- Open the tank cover and allow the tank to vent for 20 minutes.
- Check that oxygen and gas levels are safe with a gas detector; if safe, insert an air exchange or exhaust fan hose.
- Drain the remaining water through the outlet valve or with sump pumps to below 100 mm.
- Set up equipment, including fall protection, confined space equipment and protective equipment.
- Scrub or pressure-hose dirt and grime from all surfaces, including the cover and entry points, using approved cleaning chemicals if necessary.
- Rinse and drain the wastewater.
- Spray disinfectant on all surfaces, including the cover and entry point, for maximum coverage, and leave it for at least 30 minutes.
- Rinse the disinfectant, empty the tank and refill with potable water.
- Take a water sample and send it for analysis; keep compliant results on file for five years, or repeat the cleaning within 48 hours if results are not compliant.
One more rule matters in many buildings: where an underground tank and a roof tank in the same building are connected and both need cleaning, the Code requires the underground tank to be cleaned first, to prevent cross-contamination of the roof tank. If a tank is not accessible or safe, the company notifies the Responsible Person of the provisions or safety measures needed and does not proceed until they are in place.
Disinfectants and cleaning chemicals
The Code is strict about what goes inside a drinking water tank. Tanks that are accessible and safe are disinfected with a higher concentration of disinfectant than would be applied to a full tank, sprayed or scrubbed onto all internal surfaces, including the inside of the cover and any internal ladders.
| Topic | What the Code says |
|---|---|
| Permitted disinfectants | Sodium hypochlorite (food grade); calcium hypochlorite (food grade); other disinfectants as may be approved by the Bureau |
| Typical concentration for direct application | Up to 20 mg/l for sodium hypochlorite and calcium hypochlorite |
| Contact time | At least 30 minutes on all internal surfaces before rinsing |
| Quantity | Follow the manufacturer's directions and material safety data sheets to cover all internal surfaces |
| Cleaning chemicals | Food grade, suitable for tank cleaning, and not used unless approved by the Bureau |
| Compatibility | Chemicals and disinfectants must not be reactive or harmful to the tank's structure, material, lining or coating |
Two practical questions follow for owners. First, ask the company which disinfectant and cleaning products it will use, and keep the product names with the job record. Second, if the tank has an internal coating or lining, confirm that the products are compatible with it: the Code makes this the company's duty, and a damaged coating becomes a new contamination source. The Code also allows a company, subject to the relevant municipality's approval, to use innovative cleaning and disinfection technologies shown to be more effective than traditional pressure jet and brush cleaning.
Sampling and laboratory testing
Testing is what turns "we cleaned it" into evidence. The Code requires the Responsible Person to arrange sampling and testing by an accredited testing company after cleaning and disinfection where contamination is suspected or at the inspector's discretion, and states that concrete underground tanks, ground tanks and all tanks larger than 100 m3 must always be tested without exception.
| Parameter | Unit | Limit in the Code |
|---|---|---|
| Total coliforms | Number per 100 ml | 0 |
| E. coli | Number per 100 ml | 0 |
| Total bacterial count | Number per 1 ml at 37°C | 10 at 37°C |
| Legionella | Colony forming units per ml | 0 |
| Total residual chlorine | mg/l | 0.2 to 1.0 |
- Who tests: a third-party accredited testing company licensed in Abu Dhabi and approved by the Bureau.
- How samples are handled: collected, stored and transported in line with ISO 5667 on water quality sampling, or an international best practice the company can demonstrate, and analysed at an accredited laboratory.
- Turnaround: results within three days for total bacterial count, E. coli and total coliforms, and within six days for Legionella.
- Paperwork: the testing company completes the Code's Inspection and Sampling Checklist (Appendix B) for each tank; the Responsible Person signs the sample reports and keeps them on file.
- Other contamination: if there are signs of other contamination, such as a disintegrating internal coating or chemical contamination, the Responsible Person ensures testing for those parameters and the necessary cleaning or maintenance.
Independence: cleaner and sampler must differ
One of the Code's most important safeguards is easy to miss. Clause 6.2.17 states that a Responsible Company shall not conduct inspection and sampling of the same tank that it has cleaned, in order to remove any potential, actual or perceived conflict of interest. In plain terms, the company that cleans your tank should not be the one that certifies it clean.
For owners, this shapes how work is bought. Plan two engagements for tanks that must be tested: one company for cleaning and disinfection, and a separate accredited testing company for inspection and sampling. A quotation that offers to clean and also sample the same tank should prompt a question. Power Zone cleans and disinfects tanks; sampling and testing are arranged with an independent accredited testing company, so the results stand on their own.
Safety: confined spaces and risk assessment
Tank work is confined-space work, and the Code treats it seriously. Before any inspection, sampling, cleaning or disinfection, the Responsible Company must complete an environment, health and safety (EHS) risk assessment in line with the Abu Dhabi EHSMS Regulatory Framework, by a qualified EHS professional or company registered under Qudorat, the Professional Entity and Practitioner Registration Scheme. If a high risk to life is identified and not controlled, the work must not continue.
| Hazard | Related Abu Dhabi EHSMS Code of Practice listed in the Code |
|---|---|
| Confined spaces | EHS RI CoP27 |
| Working at heights | EHS RI CoP23 |
| Ladders | EHS RI CoP37 |
| Drowning | EHS RI CoP31 and CoP45 |
| Poisoning, burns, respiratory illness | EHS RI CoP01 Hazardous Materials |
| Electrocution | EHS RI CoP15 Electrical Safety and CoP24 Lock-out/Tag-out |
| Heat stroke and exhaustion | EHS RI CoP11 Safety in the Heat |
| Wastewater and sludge disposal | EHS RI CoP54 Waste Management |
| Legionnaires' disease | EHS RI CoP12.0 |
The building owner has duties too. The Code requires the Responsible Person to keep the tanks clean and safe, to ensure a safe working environment around them, to remove or control hazards so companies can access the tanks safely, and to put in place, in good time, any control measures the company identifies. Broken ladders, missing handrails on roofs, rusted hatches or tanks with no safe access are the owner's problem to fix, and they can stop a cleaning from going ahead.
Training and qualifications of tank crews
The Code sets minimum training and competence for the people who do the work. Training must cover at least: how to clean and disinfect a tank, EHS awareness, working in confined spaces, first aid, emergency management, working at heights and personal hygiene, delivered by a competent training provider licensed in Abu Dhabi.
Companies must assess every employee as "competent" or "not yet competent", and those not yet competent must not carry out tank work. Competency assessments are carried out at six-monthly intervals, and the results are kept and made available to the municipality and the Bureau on request. The Code's minimum qualifications table expects, for example, inspectors to hold a certificate, diploma or degree in engineering, architecture, building services, environmental sciences or equivalent, and cleaners to hold certificates in tank cleaning and disinfection, basic EHS awareness, confined spaces where relevant and first aid, and to be free of water-borne diseases. Asking a company for its training and competency records is a fair and simple test of whether it works to the Code.
Records and the building file
The Code expects paperwork to be kept and to be available on request:
| Record | Who keeps it and how long |
|---|---|
| Inspection and sampling reports | Responsible Person keeps them for five years |
| Reports sent to distribution companies | Responsible Person and Responsible Company keep them for five years |
| Signed sample reports | Responsible Person signs and keeps them on file for review, inspection or audit |
| Inspection and Sampling Checklists (Appendix B) | Completed by the testing company for each tank; copies kept |
| EHS risk assessments and incident reports | Kept by the Responsible Company and reported to the Responsible Person and the municipality |
| Training and competency records | Kept by the Responsible Company; subject to monitoring |
The Code also refers to a "building file" kept for municipality inspectors, and describes the testing company fixing a label on each tank with its ID number and the date it was inspected or sampled. A simple way to organise all of this, offered as guidance, is one folder per tank, holding its ID, location, material and capacity, followed by every cleaning certificate, checklist and lab report in date order.
What happens on inspection and sampling day
The Code describes the testing company's visit in detail, and knowing the sequence helps building managers prepare. The company agrees the date and time with the Responsible Person, and the Responsible Person grants access and permissions and designates a representative to accompany the team. The company arrives with the necessary authorisations, equipment, paperwork and tools.
- External check first: the team inspects the tank location from outside, assesses structural integrity and decides whether it is safe to continue to the internal inspection and sampling.
- Ventilate and test the air: once the cover is opened, the tank is ventilated for 20 minutes and a gas meter placed just below the cover measures gas levels.
- Look without entering: if gas levels are safe, the inspector inspects the inside visually while keeping a safe distance.
- Sample correctly: the sample is taken with a bottle on a pole without entering the tank, following ISO 5667 and ESMA standards, labelled with the tank ID, date and time, and transported to an accredited laboratory.
- Label and record: a sticker on the tank notes its ID and the inspection or sampling date, and the Inspection and Sampling Checklist is completed.
- Written findings: the company advises the Responsible Person in writing of the findings, including any non-compliance and recommendations for cleaning and disinfection, and provides results immediately after receiving them from the laboratory.
If a tank is not accessible or not safe, the Code allows the team to inspect visually from a safe distance, inform the Responsible Person or authority, and arrange for it to be made safe or take samples from the outlet valve or tap closest to the tank.
Saving water and handling wastewater during cleaning
Cleaning a large tank can waste a great deal of stored drinking water if it is not planned. The Code addresses this from both sides. Its cleaning guideline asks for the inlet valve to be shut at least 24 hours before cleaning so the building uses as much stored water as possible, and it requires the company to minimise wastewater by starting the cleaning when the tank is at a minimum water level. Fresh water still stored in the tank is discharged to the drain or sewer, with all necessary measures to avoid cross-contamination, and the related EHS Code of Practice on waste management applies to wastewater and sludge. For residents, the 24-hour run-down period is also the time to store enough drinking water for the hours the supply will be off.
The equipment a proper crew brings
The Code lists typical cleaning equipment: sump pumps, wet and dry vacuum pumps, exhaust or ventilation fans and hoses, high pressure jets, scrubbers and brooms, buckets, chemical spray cans, ladders, scaffolding with platforms and safety equipment. It requires the equipment to be fit for purpose, assessed as safe under the risk assessment, checked and maintained before each job, with faults reported and resolved before use. A crew that arrives with a hose and a brush only, and no gas detector, ventilation or confined space equipment, is not working to the Code.
Choosing a tank cleaning company: questions from the Code
The Code gives owners a ready-made checklist for hiring. These questions follow its requirements directly:
| Question | What a Code-compliant answer looks like |
|---|---|
| Can you show your registration and accreditation? | The Code requires a company engaged for inspection and sampling to provide evidence of its registration and accreditation; ask cleaning companies for theirs too |
| Who will do the risk assessment? | A qualified EHS professional or company registered under Qudorat, completed before work starts |
| Which disinfectant and cleaning products will you use? | Food-grade products permitted under the Code, compatible with the tank's material or coating |
| Are your crew trained and assessed? | Training on the Code's minimum topics and competency assessments every six months, with records |
| Who will test the tank afterwards? | An independent accredited testing company, not the cleaning company |
| What will we receive? | A cleaning certificate, products used, photos and findings, and copies for the building file |
The Code in the context of other regulations
The Code does not stand alone. Its section on related regulations refers to the Water Supply Regulations, which set the framework for supplying water to customers, and the Guide to them; to the Water Quality Regulations, which aim to ensure a high and consistent quality of water; and to the Bureau's Trade Effluent Control Regulations. It also refers to the Uniform Plumbing Code of Abu Dhabi Emirate, the Abu Dhabi International Property Maintenance Code and the Abu Dhabi International Building Code. The practical meaning for owners is that a tank is not only a cleaning matter: its design, installation, maintenance and pipework also fall under these codes. Repairs, replacement or changes to tank pipework go beyond routine cleaning and need a contractor who knows the relevant technical requirements.
What residents can do
The Code is addressed to owners and companies, but residents are usually the first to notice a change in the water. As guidance: report any change in colour, taste, smell or particles to the building manager in writing with the date and time; read cleaning notices and store enough drinking water before the shutdown; follow the completion notice before using the water again; respect any notice that the water is unfit for drinking until a new notice clears it; and report uncovered tank openings, leaks or dirt around tanks, which are among the signs the Code lists.
Tank types and what they mean for maintenance
| Type | Maintenance notes (guidance) |
|---|---|
| Concrete | Rough internal surfaces hold sediment and biofilm; cracks and damaged coatings need follow-up between cleans |
| Plastic | Relatively easy to clean; covers and openings need checking because sun exposure cracks them and breaks the seal |
| FRP and GRP | Panels and joints need checking for leaks; chemicals must be compatible with the material |
| GI or GS | Internal corrosion is the main risk; extensive corrosion is one of the contamination signs the Code lists |
Whatever the type, tight locked covers, screened vents and overflows, and clean, dry surroundings are the first line of defence between cleans.
The 2024 Department of Municipalities and Transport circular
On 9 October 2024, the Department of Municipalities and Transport issued Circular No. (5) of 2024 to companies licensed to clean drinking water tanks. It requires them to comply fully with Administrative Decision No. (26) of 2018 on the general health and safety of drinking water tanks in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and to carry out approved laboratory tests and sampling by a specialised laboratory technician, with a report that includes the building's basic information. The circular cites Law No. (2) of 2012 on the preservation of general appearance, health and public serenity, as amended by Law No. (10) of 2020, and Administrative Decisions 107/2020 and 108/2020. For owners, it reinforces the same message as the Code: testing by qualified people, documented against the specific building.
A building manager's tank compliance calendar
Turning the Code into a routine is easier with a calendar. The plan below is guidance built around the Code's requirements:
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Each tank, on its Code frequency | Book cleaning and disinfection with a qualified company; issue bilingual notices two days before; arrange independent sampling where required |
| Monthly | Walk-round: covers locked and sealed, vents and overflows screened, no dirt, leaks or algae around tanks and manholes |
| After any contamination sign or complaint | Inspect, clean and disinfect, and test as needed; follow the 48-hour and two-hour rules |
| After every clean | File the certificate, products used, checklist and signed lab reports in the tank's folder |
| Yearly | Review the tank list, access safety, ladders and hatches; plan repairs to coatings, lids and pipework |
How Power Zone cleans tanks in Abu Dhabi
Power Zone cleans and disinfects water tanks across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi with its own trained teams, part of 20 in-house teams covering all seven emirates. A typical job runs like this: a site survey of every tank, its access and safety; a written risk assessment and method; bilingual notices for the building manager; draining, cleaning and disinfection following the Code's procedure with food-grade products; refilling; and a cleaning certificate with the products used, photos and findings. Where testing is required, sampling is arranged with an independent accredited testing company. Related services include water tank cleaning, water filtration and water pump maintenance. See how every job runs or request a site survey.
Frequently asked questions
Who is responsible for water tank cleaning in Abu Dhabi?
The Code names the building owner or the registered building manager or agent as the Responsible Person, who must ensure cleaning, disinfection, inspection and sampling by a qualified and registered company.
How often must a water tank be cleaned in Abu Dhabi?
At least at the minimum frequency in the Code's Table 5.1.1, which depends on the tank material and location, for example concrete underground tanks Bi-annually and plastic roof tanks Annually, as written in the Code.
How much notice must residents get before tank cleaning?
The Code requires notice two days in advance, in Arabic and English, with the date, time, precautions and how long the water supply will be shut down.
What happens if a tank fails inspection or testing?
A Responsible Company must be engaged to clean and disinfect within 48 hours, residents must be told not to drink the water, and after a non-compliant test result that notice must go out within two hours.
Which disinfectants are allowed in Abu Dhabi water tanks?
Food-grade sodium hypochlorite or calcium hypochlorite, or other disinfectants approved by the Bureau, typically up to 20 mg/l for direct application and left for at least 30 minutes.
Which tanks must always be tested after cleaning?
Concrete underground tanks, ground tanks and all tanks larger than 100 m3 must always be tested without exception, according to the Code.
What are the water quality limits after cleaning?
Total coliforms 0 and E. coli 0 per 100 ml, total bacterial count 10 per ml at 37°C, Legionella 0 cfu per ml, and total residual chlorine 0.2 to 1.0 mg/l.
How long do lab results take?
The Code requires results within three days for total bacterial count, E. coli and total coliforms, and within six days for Legionella.
Can the company that cleaned my tank also test it?
No. Clause 6.2.17 says a Responsible Company shall not inspect and sample the same tank it has cleaned, to avoid any conflict of interest.
Which tank should be cleaned first if underground and roof tanks are connected?
The underground tank first, to prevent cross-contamination of the roof tank, as the Code requires.
How long must tank records be kept?
Inspection and sampling reports are kept for five years and made available to the municipality and the Bureau on request.
What should residents do after the tank is cleaned?
Follow the completion notice; the Code gives the example of running taps or showers for at least five minutes after cleaning, or as advised by the company.
Do tank cleaners need special training in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Training must cover cleaning and disinfection, EHS awareness, confined spaces, first aid, emergency management, working at heights and personal hygiene, with competency assessments every six months.
What does DMT Circular No. (5) of 2024 require?
Companies licensed to clean drinking water tanks must comply fully with Administrative Decision No. (26) of 2018 and carry out approved laboratory tests and sampling by a specialised laboratory technician, with a report including the building's basic information.
How long is a tank ventilated before anyone looks inside?
The Code's procedures allow the tank to vent for 20 minutes after the cover is opened, then gas levels are measured before inspection or cleaning continues.
Why is the inlet valve closed a day before cleaning?
The Code asks for the inlet to be shut at least 24 hours before cleaning so the building uses as much stored water as possible, reducing waste.
What other regulations does the tank Code refer to?
The Water Supply Regulations and their Guide, the Water Quality Regulations, the Trade Effluent Control Regulations, the Uniform Plumbing Code of Abu Dhabi Emirate, the Abu Dhabi International Property Maintenance Code and the Abu Dhabi International Building Code.
Does Power Zone clean water tanks in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Power Zone's own teams clean and disinfect tanks across the emirate, following the Code's procedure, with sampling arranged through an independent accredited testing company where required.