Water. Seventy percent of the world and 70 percent of the human body is made up of the stuff. So why do we tend to take it for granted?

The recent Emergency Plan for the General Public <$>issued by the Department of Health, states that regular maintenance of water tanks is important to keep your water safe, healthy and fresh.

Although this may seem like common knowledge, some people let their roofs and water tanks go unattended for years, resulting in myriad problems, including:

[bul]Stagnation - when your water smells foul due to the depletion of oxygen

[bul]Roof catchment paint contamination - when the water in your tank is cloudy and may taste objectionable

[bul]Mosquito/fly larvae - red or dark coloured worm-like creatures wriggling around in your water

[bul]Rust-coloured tap water - deterioration of galvanised water supply components (pipes or pressure tank)

With hurricane season upon us, it is important to remember that these problems can be intensified due to high winds causing debris to be washed into tanks or blocking gutters.

The Emergency Plan notes since the Island has a potential to be exposed to prolonged periods of low atmospheric pressure during a hurricane, the result can be the depletion of oxygen in tank water.

Alongside an increase in temperature and an increase in salinity, these factors further limit the solubility of oxygen in water and can cause stagnation.

“To make matters worse vegetation sometimes enters the tank. Normal bacterial action on this matter then has the potential to use up all the remaining oxygen in the water.

“As these aerobic bacteria die off it allows explosion in the population of anaerobic organisms that live off inorganic salts, such as sulphates that are in the water,” the plan elaborates. “As a consequence the water begins to smell from the obnoxious by-products of their metabolism.”

These points help to underline the importance of blocking your gutters before a storm.

Although it may not help with a decrease in pressure or increase in temperature, there will be less chance for bugs or vegetation to get caught inside your tank.

Firstly ensure all overflow pipes are above ground and screened with fine mesh wire and that the tank top is tight fitting and kept free of sources of contamination.

There are several ways to go about tackling contamination. The most effective seems to be to completely emptying your tank and then clean or power wash it.

The plan recommends doing a search for cracks and leaks at this point and cementing them over.

Once you have finished washing, inspecting and repairing your tank, rinse the walls and floor to remove residual water and allow it to dry for a couple of days.

Simpler solutions include removing any vegetation from the tank, and aerating the water by adding oxygen to guard against anaerobic bacteria - this can be achieved by setting your garden hose nozzle onto the surface of the water and turning it on to let the water circulate for several hours.

Another option would be to use a bucket tied to a rope to agitate the water with an upward and downward motion to make bubbles. The Emergency Plan goes on to suggest: “Chlorinate in order to reduce the numbers of bacteria in the tank and pipes. Use only regular household bleach (four ounces per 1,000 gallons).

“Chlorination should only be performed if the water is clear and the tank relatively sludge free. Organic matter in the sludge inhibits disinfecting.”

Chlorinating your tank water will also help to reduce any larvae problem - although larvae in the water is not hazardous to your health.

Other solutions for this include using goldfish or guppies in your tank, but then the water should only be used for household chores and not for drinking.

For more information on safety during a hurricane, consult your Emergency Plan for the General Public <$>or contact the Department of Health.