Short answer:
In this guide
- How do you store drinking water safely at home?
- Is your water source actually suitable for drinking?
- Should your overhead tank be completely covered?
- What should you check on the tank inlet, outlet and overflow?
- How often should you clean your water tank?
- What changes during Kerala’s monsoon?
- Does the tank material solve the water-quality problem?
- What should you look for in a stainless steel water tank?
- When should you test the water?
- Who should not buy a stainless steel water tank?
- What should you check before buying or maintaining a water tank?
- Still have a question?
- Frequently asked questions
Water storage rules start with protecting water after it reaches your property. Use a suitable storage system, keep it covered, protect the inlet and overflow, make the tank accessible for inspection and cleaning, and test the source water when there is a specific concern. Safe storage prevents already-safe water from being recontaminated.
Key takeaways
- Start by identifying whether your source is KWA supply, well, borewell or harvested rainwater.
- Keep the tank covered and protect openings from debris, insects and unwanted entry.
- Make the inlet, outlet and overflow easy to inspect and maintain.
- Kerala’s monsoon is a useful time to check wells, tanks and drainage.
- A tank cannot correct contaminated source water or replace appropriate water testing.
If your storage system has not been checked recently, start with the cover, inlet, overflow and access point. For product-specific guidance, message Skywell on WhatsApp with your required capacity and installation situation.
How do you store drinking water safely at home?
Safe household storage means keeping already-safe water in a container and system that protects it from recontamination. The CDC’s safe water storage guidance recommends storage arrangements that protect water from contamination after treatment or collection.
Your house may receive Kerala Water Authority supply, well water, borewell water or harvested rainwater. These sources do not necessarily present the same conditions, so your storage routine should begin with knowing what is actually entering your sump or tank.
A 2020 peer-reviewed study of rural households in India collected 3,296 stored drinking-water samples and found E. coli in 69% of samples. The study also found the highest E. coli levels during the wet season. It covered rural India rather than Kerala specifically, so this is not a Kerala household statistic. Environmental Science & Technology, 2020
The practical lesson is simple: water quality can change after collection. Your tank, lid, fittings, access method and cleaning practices are part of the storage system.
Is your water source actually suitable for drinking?
A clear glass of water cannot tell you its full microbiological or chemical quality. If your home depends on a well or another source with uncertain quality, testing is more useful than guessing.
A 2018 study of 449 households in an urban area of Thiruvananthapuram found coliform contamination in 73% of the wells studied. More than 77% of those wells had a septic tank within a 7.5-metre radius. These findings apply to that defined study area and should not be presented as current figures for all Kerala wells. Contamination of Household Open Wells in an Urban Area of Trivandrum, Kerala State, India, 2018
If your well water is a concern, Kerala Water Authority provides water-quality testing through its district laboratories and accepts samples from private parties. Kerala Water Authority, Quality Testing
The Kerala Ground Water Department also lists domestic water-quality analysis covering parameters including pH, electrical conductivity, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, chloride, sulphate, nitrate and iron, along with bacteriological analysis for total and faecal coliforms. Kerala Ground Water Department, Water Quality Analysis
Source quality comes first. A new tank does not make an unsuitable source suitable.
Should your overhead tank be completely covered?
Yes. The tank should be properly covered so stored water is protected from dust, debris, insects, animals and accidental entry.
The National Centre for Disease Control advises that water storage tanks should be away from contamination sources, accessible for cleaning, and fitted with appropriately protected inlets and overflow arrangements. NCDC, Important considerations for water storage tanks
For household storage generally, the CDC recommends a container that can be closed tightly and prevents hands or objects from entering the stored water.
Your terrace tank is a larger system than a small household drinking-water vessel, but the principle is the same: stored water needs physical protection from recontamination.
Do not treat the lid as an optional accessory. It is part of the storage system.
What should you check on the tank inlet, outlet and overflow?
The fittings deserve as much attention as the tank body. The inlet should be protected from debris and unwanted entry, the outlet should be correctly connected, and the overflow should discharge safely.
NCDC guidance specifically identifies accessibility, contamination sources, inlet protection and overflow arrangements as important considerations for water storage systems. NCDC, Important considerations for water storage tanks
| Check | What you should confirm |
|---|---|
| Inlet | Protected from debris and unwanted entry |
| Outlet | Correctly fitted and maintained |
| Overflow | Discharges safely away from the tank area |
| Access | Tank can be inspected and cleaned safely |
| Surroundings | No obvious contamination source nearby |
This matters on Kerala terraces because a tank can remain above the house for years without anyone checking what is happening around the fittings.
A good installation should make inspection possible, not make maintenance an unsafe climbing job.
For more practical guidance on the wider storage system, see Skywell’s tank maintenance guidance.
How often should you clean your water tank?
There is no single cleaning interval that should automatically be treated as a universal rule for every Kerala household tank. The appropriate maintenance routine depends on the source, system condition, surroundings and visible accumulation.
CDC guidance provides cleaning and sanitising instructions for household safe-water containers, but that guidance is primarily written for smaller storage containers and should not be converted into an arbitrary schedule for every Kerala overhead tank. CDC, Safe Water Storage
Instead, inspect the system regularly.
Check the lid. Look at the inlet and overflow. Look for sediment, unusual deposits, damaged fittings or anything that should not be inside the tank. Make sure the tank can be reached safely for proper inspection and cleaning.
For healthcare facilities, NCDC guidance specifically calls for regular cleaning of large overhead storage tanks. That is a healthcare-facility requirement, not a universal household schedule, so it should not be presented as one. NCDC, National Guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control in Healthcare Facilities
If you cannot inspect the tank properly, you cannot confidently say that the storage system is being maintained.
What changes during Kerala’s monsoon?
Kerala’s monsoon makes source and storage checks more important because heavy rain can affect wells, drainage and rainwater collection systems. The Government of Kerala advises cleaning wells and drinking-water sources as part of rainy-season precautions. Government of Kerala, Prepared and Protected; Precautions for the Rainy Season
The 2020 rural-India study also found the highest E. coli levels in stored household water during the wet season. That research was not conducted across Kerala, so it should be treated as India-specific evidence rather than a Kerala contamination rate. Environmental Science & Technology, 2020
Before heavy rains and after an unusually severe rain event, check:
- Tank cover and access points
- Sump and well surroundings
- Roof or rainwater collection areas
- Inlet and overflow pipes
- Drainage around the tank
- Visible sediment or debris
Flooding deserves extra caution. CDC guidance states that floods and other disasters can introduce germs or chemicals into cisterns and may require cleaning or disinfection before stored water is used again. That is international emergency guidance, not a Kerala-specific contamination rate. CDC, Cistern Safety and Disasters
Does the tank material solve the water-quality problem?
No. A tank is one part of the water-storage system, not a treatment system for contaminated source water.
A stainless steel tank cannot correct contaminated well water. It cannot fix a dirty sump, exposed inlet, damaged lid or poor installation. It cannot replace water-quality testing when your source is in doubt.
That is why I would not choose a tank simply because the material sounds safer. If stainless steel suits your installation and you want a food-grade stainless steel storage system, it can be a reasonable specification to consider. If your priority is simply meeting a household storage requirement within a tight budget, stainless steel may not be necessary for your situation.
You should not buy a stainless steel water tank on the assumption that the material alone guarantees safer drinking water.
The system still needs a suitable source, correct installation, protected access and sensible maintenance.
If you are comparing materials and need to understand the broader choice, see stainless steel versus plastic water tanks in Kerala.
What should you look for in a stainless steel water tank?
If stainless steel suits your requirements, ask for the actual specification rather than accepting a generic “steel tank” description.
Skywell’s current stainless steel range is specified as food-grade AISI 304 stainless steel, with capacities of 500 L, 1,000 L, 1,500 L, 2,000 L, 3,000 L and 5,000 L. The product page also states that the tanks have an accessible lid and drain valve for inspection, emptying and flushing. Skywell stainless steel water tanks
Skywell states that its manufacturing facility is in Kanjikode, Palakkad, and that the company is ISO 9001:2015 certified. Its stainless steel tank page recommends professional installation and regular cleaning and inspection. Skywell Aqua Solutions
Skywell states that its tanks carry a 10-year warranty. Warranty coverage should still be read according to the applicable product terms rather than treated as a promise about the entire water system.
| Specification | Skywell stainless steel range |
|---|---|
| Material | Food-grade AISI 304 stainless steel |
| Capacities | 500 L to 5,000 L |
| Designs | Vertical and horizontal |
| Manufacturing location | Kanjikode, Palakkad, Kerala |
| Certification stated by Skywell | ISO 9001:2015 |
| Warranty stated by Skywell | 10 years |
These are Skywell’s stated product specifications, not independent certification of the entire water-storage installation.
If you want to check whether the specification fits your house, message Skywell on WhatsApp with the capacity you are considering and how the tank will be installed.
When should you test the water?
Test rather than guess when your source changes, when you have a specific water-quality concern, or when conditions around a well or storage system have changed.
Kerala Water Authority states that its district laboratories test water samples received from private parties. Its quality-control network tests parameters including turbidity, pH, electrical conductivity, hardness, chloride, fluoride, iron, nitrate, total coliforms and E. coli. Kerala Water Authority, Quality Control
The Kerala Ground Water Department also provides domestic water-quality analysis and bacteriological testing. Kerala Ground Water Department, Water Quality Analysis
That is a better approach than replacing a tank every time the water tastes different. The reason for a change in taste, smell or appearance may be somewhere else in the system.
There is also an important uncertainty here: without testing, you may not know whether the issue is the source, storage, plumbing or another part of the water system.
Who should not buy a stainless steel water tank?
A stainless steel tank may not be necessary when your household has a different suitable storage requirement, a tight budget, or no particular reason to specify stainless steel.
Capacity, installation conditions, material specification, maintenance access and warranty should all be considered before purchase. A different suitable tank may make more sense for your particular situation.
You also should not choose stainless steel as a substitute for fixing contaminated source water. If the source is in doubt, investigate the source first.
That is the honest limitation: a higher-specification tank cannot compensate for a poor water source or poor system maintenance.
What should you check before buying or maintaining a water tank?
Use these questions with your plumber, engineer or supplier:
- What is the actual water source: KWA supply, well, borewell or harvested rainwater?
- What capacity does the household actually require, and where will the tank be installed?
- How will the inlet, outlet and overflow be routed and protected?
- Can the tank be inspected, cleaned and emptied safely later?
- What material, grade, warranty and installation support are included?
Capacity comes first. The tank material comes after the actual storage requirement and installation conditions are understood.
Skywell Aqua Solutions makes food-grade stainless steel and plastic water tanks in Palakkad, Kerala.
Not sure which tank suits your home? Message us on WhatsApp for free, honest advice.
Still have a question?
If you are unsure about capacity, material or installation, send Skywell your requirements and ask for practical guidance before purchasing.
Cite as: skywell.in/water-storage-rules/
Frequently asked questions
Is stainless steel suitable for drinking-water storage?
A stainless steel tank can be used for household water storage when the product is appropriately specified for the application and correctly installed and maintained. Skywell specifies its stainless steel tanks as food-grade AISI 304 and lists capacities from 500 L to 5,000 L. The tank itself cannot correct poor source-water quality or poor maintenance.
How can I make drinking water storage safer at home?
Use a suitable storage system, keep it properly covered, protect openings, keep the tank away from contamination sources, maintain the inlet and overflow, and make the system accessible for inspection and cleaning. CDC guidance defines safe storage as protecting already-safe water from recontamination. This guidance is international rather than Kerala-specific.
Should I test my well water in Kerala?
Consider testing when you have a specific concern about source-water quality or when conditions around the well have changed. Kerala Water Authority provides water-quality testing through its district laboratories, while the Kerala Ground Water Department provides domestic chemical and bacteriological analysis. Testing can help identify whether the concern is at the source rather than the storage tank.
Does cleaning the tank make contaminated source water safe?
No. Cleaning addresses the storage system, while source-water quality is a separate issue. A Kerala study of 449 households in urban Thiruvananthapuram found coliform contamination in 73% of the wells studied. That figure applies only to the defined study population and should not be treated as a statewide Kerala rate.
What should I check before the Kerala monsoon?
Inspect the tank cover, inlet, overflow, sump and well surroundings. Make sure rainwater cannot enter the storage system unintentionally and that overflow water can discharge safely. The Government of Kerala advises cleaning wells and drinking-water sources as part of rainy-season precautions, while CDC guidance recommends extra caution where flooding may affect stored water.
How often should a household water tank be cleaned?
There is no single interval that should automatically be applied to every Kerala household tank. The appropriate routine depends on the source, system condition and visible accumulation. Inspect the tank and fittings regularly, and clean the system when inspection identifies sediment, deposits, contamination or other maintenance needs. Specific institutional cleaning schedules should not automatically be treated as household rules.
Who should not buy a stainless steel water tank?
A stainless steel tank may not be necessary if your household has another suitable storage requirement, a tight budget, or no particular reason to specify stainless steel. Choose based on capacity, installation conditions, material specification, maintenance access and warranty rather than assuming one material suits every house.
Can a new water tank fix poor-quality well water?
No. A new tank does not correct contaminated source water. If your well or borewell is in doubt, water-quality testing is more useful than assuming the storage material is responsible. Kerala Water Authority and the Kerala Ground Water Department both provide water-testing facilities, including bacteriological analysis through their relevant services.
