Why cleaning inside treated water tanks matters
Over time, water storage reservoirs and clear wells accumulate iron and manganese biofilm staining and sludge, as well as other contaminants on tank floors and walls. Left untreated, this fouling, harbours and protects bacteria, reduces water quality stability and increases the chlorine demand needed to keep water safe as it flows through the distribution system. This can drive up ongoing treatment costs and impact water quality management factors such as THMs.
Traditional high-pressure washing removes deposits but not stubborn biofilm staining. It also has a cost: the high pressure risks damaging tank linings, coatings and structural surfaces. For established biofilm staining, safe chemical breakdown is significantly faster and much gentler on the asset than pressure washing.
Pantonite's chemical cleaning process works at low pressure, dissolving iron, manganese and biofilm contamination — as well as hydrocarbon contamination — without the structural risk that comes with high-pressure methods
One Day
to clean a 500,000 gallon tank with a 3 person team
Low-pressure
Safe chemical process not high-pressure washing
No scaffolding
40' reach in tanks with extending lance
How it works
1
Assessment
Your contractor assesses the tank size, fouling severity, and access requirements to determine the right lance, applicator, and treatment approach for your asset.
2
Treatment
Using an extendable lance if required and non-atomizing low-pressure applicator, Pantonite chemistry is applied in a wide spray pattern. This dissolves iron, manganese, and biofilm contamination across the full surface area without scaffolding or high-pressure equipment.
3
Verification
Post-cleaning inspections confirm fouling has been fully removed and the asset is returned to service with significantly reduced bacterial activity and chlorine demand going forward.
See it in action
In this video - the speed and effectiveness of the Pantonite tank cleaning capability is demonstrated.
It shows how stubborn Iron and Manganese staining in a treated water storage tank can't be easily removed with high-pressure spray or fire-hose but the low pressure Pantonite application removes it in seconds.
Why contractors and utilities choose Pantonite for tank cleaning
Asset safe cleaning
Low-pressure application avoids the structural damage risk of high-pressure washing
Fast turn around
A 500,000 gallon tank can be completed in one day by a 3 person crew.
Effective against biofouling
Dissolves iron, manganese and biofilm contamination, as well as hydrocarbons
Reduced chlorine demand
Effective biofilm removal lowers the chlorine required for water quality stability
Results you can see
Pantonite's chemical cleaning process restores tank surfaces without the structural risk of high-pressure washing — visible results, minimal asset impact.
Tank cleaning before and after Pantonite treatment in Brewster, MA.
See the difference for yourself
In Fredonia, NY, our partner ATiS was helping the utility manage elevated TTHM levels as part of a wider programme that also included installing a tank mixer.
Tank cleaning formed another part of that strategy. Biofilm and accumulated deposits can add to disinfectant demand, making chlorine residuals less stable and increasing the challenge of managing water quality. Cleaning is not a complete TTHM solution on its own, but it can remove one avoidable source of demand and support more predictable residual control.
A previous contractor spent four days attempting to pressure-wash the tank without successfully completing the clean.
ATiS then used a low-pressure Pantonite process with a telescopic lance and non-atomising applicator. The Pantonite clean was completed in under six hours, with the tank beginning refill approximately 24 hours after being taken offline.
Before Pantonite Clean - note the pressure was marks at the end.
During Pantonite Clean.
First phase of Pantonite clean completed.