1 min readhealth, water-tank, turbidity, safety tank, drainage, sewage
Signs your water tank is making you sick
Stored water goes bad quietly. Here are the warning signs worth acting on before anyone falls ill.
When clean water stops being clean
Rooftop and underground tanks in the Valley sit for weeks between cleanings. Sediment settles, biofilm grows on the walls, and mosquitoes find their way in. You often notice the water before a lab would.
Watch for:
- A faint musty or eggy smell at the tap
- Cloudiness or fine particles when you fill a clear glass
- Green or brown film on the tank walls or lid
- Stomach upsets that track with tap water, not food
The measurement that matters is turbidity. WHO drinking-water guidance targets it below 1 NTU:
TURBIDITY 1240 NTU -> 0.8 NTU
STATUS UNSAFE -> SAFE TO USEIf two or more signs show up, disinfect and clean the tank — do not wait for someone to get sick first.