Pollen?
This years pollen season – depending on where you live – has been behaving more like a pollen tsunami, beginning in February, and continuing through the latter part of June, with still no end in sight.
For rainwater collectors this is a time when uncertainty becomes certainty… The stink of pollen is confirmation that you have collected pollen somewhere in your water collection system.
We can, and will solve your problem.
Fortunately, we have the solution!
Since 2013 our cistern and reservoir cleaning service has helped to eliminate this problem by physically removing the offending, glutinous, slimy and filthy smelling pollen from water cisterns or reservoirs in addition to the regular sediment and sludge which has accumulated over time and is found in all water cisterns.
A recent comment from a colleague, that he didn’t know he had a septic system hiding in his house gutters, highlights the odor issue, because this is where pollen accumulates and coagulates before starting its journey into the water collection cistern or reservoir!
Once it enters the water system, pollen will collect on the water surface, before slowly sinking to the bottom of the collection tank.
Pollen-laden water then flows throughout the water system, plugging filters, leaving pollen residue in your plumbing lines, and generally making life unbearable, with the onerous smell encountered whenever taps are opened…
We hope you don’t have the same experience as Mrs. A, who recently called us for help. Her 5 cisterns had accumulated so much pollen, it was impossible for her to spend time in her home – the odor was so bad she had to find an alternative space until we came and eliminated the pollen and the smell – yes eliminated!
When things are getting really bad…
If you are familiar with our service, you will be aware of our whole premise of saving the water and not emptying the cistern when we do a cistern cleaning and disinfection.
Our unique and proprietary method of cistern cleaning without dumping all the precious water is still our top priority.
However, sometimes it is just not possible to save the water, because it is unsalvageable.
In these kinds of situations, where saving the water would not be to our customers’ advantage, we still perform our usual full cleaning (removing all the sediment and pollen, scrubbing the interior and disinfecting with Hydrogen Peroxide). But we would then complete the process utilizing our ‘clean & drain’ method, leaving your water cistern clean as a whistle, empty and ready for a water refill. This ‘clean & drain’ option is offered at no additional cost.
Not sure which type of cleaning you need? When our cleaning technician arrives at your home, he would inspect your cistern and advise as to the best option for you. Either way, a clean and disinfected cistern or reservoir will be ready for your use.
Please check our website at https://cleancistern.com/testimonials for more information and check out some of the comments from satisfied customers we have taken care of during the past 9+ years of cistern and reservoir cleanings.
Need to speak to a real live person to get your questions answered? 250-713-9797 is your direct contact number.
This article first appeared in the Gabriola Sounder two years ago in the July 2020 long weekend edition. The problem of pollen has not gone away though, so for all the newcomers to the island – and to water cistern owners in general – we decided to re-post for your information.
And for those of you who missed reading this article, that appeared in the Gabriola Sounder for the long July weekend in 2022, here is a pdf version.