Water Storage Tank – Procedure for Cleaning

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for cleaning of the water storage tank (Fire Hydrant, Soft Water, RO water) in the pharmaceutical drug manufacturing plant.

Cleaning of the Water Storage Tank

1.0   PURPOSE:

    • The purpose of this SOP is to define the procedure for cleaning the water storage tank.

2.0   SCOPE:

    • This procedure is applicable for all (Fire Hydrant, Soft Water, RO water) storage tanks at pharmaceuticals drug plants.

3.0   REFERENCES:

    • In House

4.0   RESPONSIBILITY:

    • Maintenance Dept. shall be responsible for getting cleaned all water tanks.
    • Maintenance Dept. shall be responsible for periodically maintaining cleaning records and status labels.
    • QA shall be responsible for cross verifying cleaning, reviewing, and approving SOP.

5.0   ABBREVIATIONS:

    • XFDV-1: Actuated Flow Diversion Valve-1
    • EHS: Environment, Health & SafetyWater Storage Tank
    • XBV-3: Actuated Diaphragm Valve-3
    • HP03: Fire Hydrant Valve 03
    • DEFINITION:
    • Reverse Osmosis: It is a water purification technology that uses a semipermeable membrane to remove larger particles from drinking water.

7.0   PROCEDURE FOR CLEANING OF WATER STORAGE TANK:

    • Cleaning of Fire Hydrant Tank (250 KL):

    • The frequency for cleaning Quaterly±7 days.
    • Maintenance personnel shall ensure that all water storage tanks (150KL, 5KL, 20KL, 30KL) shall be filled up to 100% of the level.
    • Close the water inlet valves and stop the pump at the source and update the status label of the 250KL tank as “Under Cleaning”.
    • Empty the water tank through opening V15 (drain valve) and HP03 (fire hydrant valve) & drain the remaining water using the pump set if required.
    • Tighten the fire hydrant valve and drain valve after emptying the tank.
    • Ensure the work Permit of and safety measures for, Vessel and Confined space from the EHS department as per SOP named as “work permit system”.
    • Maximum six personnel of the contracted party of tank cleaning shall enter the tank through the SS ladder.
    • Get the sand out from the tank with help of buckets.
    • Clean the tank’s ceiling, wall & floor, and with help of a nylon brush and using a monkey ladder for removing all adhered dirt (if any).
    • Rinse the tank with help of raw water from the pipe connecting to the inlet supply by opening the valves.
    • Get the chipping (if any) repaired with help of civil work personnel and holding tank for the time period suggested by engineering.
    • Clean the tank again with the help of applying paste (bleaching powder & water) of 50:50 ratio on the ceiling, walls, and floor of the tank & clean it after 30 minutes by rinsing the tank with help of raw water from the pipe connecting to the inlet supply by opening the valves.

Note: Ensure that eye shall be protected by the help of goggle to avoid dropping of water which may have bleaching contents.

    • Remove the wastewater from the water storage tank by getting the drain valve opened with help of their colleague.
    • Again rinse the water storage tank with help of raw water from the pipe connecting to the inlet supply by opening the valves.
    • Get the cleaning checked by supervising maintenance personnel.
    • If cleaning is completed, maintenance personnel shall open the inlet valves and close the drain valve to fill the water storage tank again.
    • Update the status label and fill the water storage tank cleaning record.
    • Cleaning of Raw Water Storage Tank (150KL):

    • The frequency for cleaning Quarterly±7 days.
    • Maintenance personnel shall ensure that all water storage tanks (250KL, 5KL, 20KL, 30KL) shall be filled up to 100% of the level.
    • Close the water inlet valve and stop the pump at the source and update the status label of 150KL as “Under Cleaning”.
    • Empty the water tank through opening the drain valve drain the remaining water using the pump set if required.
    • Tighten the drain valve.
    • Ensure the work Permit of Vessel and Confined space from the EHS department as per SOP named as “work permit system”.
    • Maximum six personnel of the contracted party of tank cleaning shall enter the tank through the SS ladder.
    • Get the sand out from the tank with help of buckets.
    • Clean the tank’s ceiling, wall & floor, and with help of a nylon brush and using a monkey ladder for removing all adhered dirt (if any).
    • Rinse the tank with help of raw water from the pipe connecting to the inlet supply by opening the valve.
    • Get the chipping (if any) repaired with help of civil work personnel and holding tank for the time period suggested by engineering.
    • Clean the tank again with the help of applying paste (bleaching powder & water) of 50:50 ratio on the ceiling, walls, and floor of the tank & clean it after 30 minutes by rinsing the tank with help of raw water from the pipe connecting to the inlet supply by opening the valve.

Note: Ensure that eye shall be protected by the help of goggle to avoid dropping of water which may have bleaching contents

    • Remove the wastewater by getting the drain valve opened with help of their colleague.
    • Again rinse the tank with help of raw water from the pipe connecting to the inlet supply by opening the valve.
    • Get the cleaning of the tank checked by supervising maintenance personnel.
    • If cleaning is completed, maintenance personnel shall open the inlet valve and close the drain valve to fill the tank again.
    • Update the status label and fill the water storage tank cleaning record.
    • Cleaning of Soft Water Storage Tank (5KL):

    • The frequency for cleaning Monthly±4 days.
    • Maintenance personnel shall ensure that all water storage tanks (250KL, 150KL, 20KL, 30KL) shall be filled up to 100% of the level.
    • Close the water inlet valve XBV-3 and stop the pretreatment plant and update the status label of the 5KL tank as “Under Cleaning”.
    • Empty the water tank through the opening of the drain valve.
    • Tighten the inlet valve and drain valve.
    • Ensure the work Permit of Vessel and Confined space from the EHS department as per SOP named “work permit system”.
    • One personnel of the contracted party of tank cleaning shall enter the tank through the SS ladder.
    • Get the sand out from the tank with help of the cloth.
    • Clean the tank’s ceiling, wall & floor with help of a nylon brush for removing all adhered dirt.
    • Rinse the tank with help of soft water by starting the pretreatment plant and opening the inlet valve XBV-3.
    • Remove the wastewater using the drain valve.
    • Get the cleaning checked by supervising maintenance personnel.
    • If cleaning is completed, maintenance personnel shall open the inlet valve XBV-3, start the pretreatment plant, and close the drain valve to fill the tank again.
    • Update the status label and fill the water storage tank cleaning record.
    • Cleaning of Soft Water Storage Tank (30KL):

    • The frequency for cleaning Quarterly±7 days.
    • Maintenance personnel shall ensure that all water storage tanks (250KL, 150KL, 5KL, 20KL) shall be filled up to 100% of the level.
    • Stop the transfer pump of 5 KL tank and inlet valve and update the status label of 30KL tank as “Under Cleaning”.
    • Empty the water tank through the opening of the drain valve.
    • Ensure the work Permit of Vessel and Confined space from the EHS department as per SOP named as “work permit system”.
    • Maximum two personnel of the contracted party of tank cleaning shall enter the tank through the SS ladder.
    • Get the sand out from the tank with help of cloth (if needed).
    • Clean the tank’s ceiling, wall & floor with help of a nylon brush for removing all adhered dirt.
    • Get the damage & broken tile (if any) repaired with help of civil work personnel and holding tank for the time period suggested by engineering.
    • Rinse the tank with help of soft water by opening the inlet valve and starting the transfer pump of the 5 KL tank.
    • Remove the wastewater by opening the drain valve.
    • Get the cleaning of the tank checked by supervising maintenance personnel.
    • If cleaning is completed, maintenance personnel shall open the inlet valve, start the transfer pump of the 5KL tank, and close the drain valve to fill the tank again.
    • Update the status label and fill the water storage tank cleaning record.
    • Cleaning of Soft Water Storage Tank (20KL):

    • The frequency for cleaning Quarterly±7 days.
    • Maintenance personnel shall ensure that all water storage tanks (250KL, 150KL, 5KL, 30KL) shall be filled up to 100% of the level.
    • Close the inlet valve and update the status label of the 20KL tank as “Under Cleaning”.
    • Empty the water tank through the opening of the drain valve.
    • Ensure the work Permit of Vessel and Confined space from the EHS department as per SOP named “work permit system”.
    • Maximum two personnel of the contracted party of tank cleaning shall enter the tank through the SS ladder.
    • Get the sand out from the tank with help of cloth (if needed).
    • Clean the tank’s ceiling, wall & floor with help of a nylon brush for removing all adhered dirt.
    • Get the damage & broken tile (if any) repaired with help of civil work personnel and holding tank for the time period suggested by engineering.
    • Rinse the tank with help of soft water by opening the valve.
    • Remove the wastewater by opening the drain valve.
    • Get the cleaning of the tank checked by supervising maintenance personnel.
    • If cleaning is completed, maintenance personnel shall open the inlet valve, and close the drain valve to fill the tank again.
    • Update the status label and fill the water storage tank cleaning record.
    • Cleaning of RO Water Storage Tank (3KL):

    • The frequency for cleaning Monthly±4 days.
    • Maintenance personnel shall ensure that the 150KL water storage tank shall be filled up to 100% of the level.
    • Stop the RO system and close the XFDV-1 and update the status label of the 3KL tank as “Under Cleaning”.
    • Empty the water tank through opening the drain valve.
    • Ensure the work Permit of Vessel and Confined space from the EHS department as per SOP named “work permit system”.
    • Open the main hole flange for entering into the tank.
    • One personnel of the contracted party of tank cleaning shall enter the tank through the SS ladder.
    • Clean the tank’s ceiling, wall & floor with help of a nylon brush for removing all adhered dirt.
    • Rinse the tank by opening the valve XFDV-1 and starting the RO system.
    • Remove the wastewater using drain valve DV-1.
    • Get the cleaning checked by supervising maintenance personnel.
    • If cleaning is completed, Maintenance personnel shall open the XFDV-1 and start the RO system to fill the tank again.
    • Update the status label and fill the water storage tank cleaning record.

8.0   ANNEXURES – WATER STORAGE TANK:

Annexure: Water Storage Tank Cleaning Record

Tank Name/No.:
Tank Location:

Sr. No.

Cleaning Cleaned on Next Cleaning Due on Done by Checked by

Remark

Start Time

Completion Time

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pharmabeginers

Janki Singh is experienced in Pharmaceuticals, author and founder of Pharma Beginners, an ultimate pharmaceutical blogging platform. Email: [email protected]

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