Water Tank Cleaning Hibiscus Coast

Tank cleaning along the Hibiscus Coast, from Waiwera baches to Millwater homes

Most of the Hibiscus Coast is on the town supply, so many tanks here water gardens, flush toilets and run the laundry rather than supplying the kitchen tap. A few areas are different. On the rural edges around Stillwater and the hills behind Waiwera and Hatfields Beach, some homes drink their tank water, and those tanks need the same care as any rural supply. The cleaning method is the same for both, but the stakes are higher where the tank is the drinking water.

Coastal roofs collect their own mix of material. Along the Hauraki Gulf, onshore wind carries salt and fine sand onto roofs, and seabirds add droppings. That material washes into the spouting with the first rain and settles on the tank floor. A first-flush diverter that works properly catches a lot of it before it gets to the tank, but on many coast properties the diverter has never been emptied, so it is the first thing we check.

Holiday and weekend homes are common on the coast, and a tank that sits untouched for weeks behaves differently from one in daily use. Water that does not move warms up in summer, and sediment that is not drawn off builds into a thicker layer. Before a busy summer at the bach, a vacuum clean removes that layer without draining the water you already have, and we can check the pump, filters and any UV unit at the same visit.

On newer homes at Millwater and Milldale, tanks are often slimline units tucked down the side of the house. They are easy to overlook, and a yearly inspection of the inlet, outlet and lid is enough to keep them in good order. If the spouting needs attention, our roof plumbers can deal with it on the same trip.

Local tip: Empty the first-flush diverter on your Hibiscus Coast tank after a big onshore blow, because salt and sand collect there before they reach the water.