How to Keep the Water in the Rooftop Tank Cold: This summer, the heat is breaking all records. Are you also troubled by boiling water as soon as you open the tap in the scorching heat? In summer, the water tank on the rooftop heats up like a furnace. We cool our rooms by turning on the AC or cooler, but when it comes to bathing, washing our faces, or cleaning utensils, we have to deal with the same hot water.

If you don't want to spend thousands of dollars installing an expensive water chiller or insulated tank, there's no need to worry. The solution to this everyday problem is right around us. Here are some inexpensive and effective homegrown tricks you can try to keep your water tank as cool as a pot all summer long:

1. Say goodbye to the black rooftop tank

• Black is a color that absorbs the sun's heat the most and fastest. Buy inexpensive white paint or lime from the market. Paint the tank completely white from the outside. If you're buying a new tank, always choose white or a light color.
• How it works: It's a simple science: white reflects the sun's rays. This doesn't increase the water temperature at all.

2. Making a shed over the tank

• Protecting the tank from direct sunlight is paramount. Avoiding direct sunlight solves half the problem. If possible, build a small shed over the tank using tin, fiber, or tarpaulin. If building a shed seems expensive, purchase a green net for 100-200 rupees. Stretch it over the tank like a tent using bamboo.
• Advantage: This net reduces the heat of the sun by 50 to 60 percent and also allows air to pass through well.

3. A layer of thermocol will act as insulation

• Just as water stays cool in a thermos bottle, you can apply the same formula to your tank. Get some thick thermocol sheets from the hardware store. Tie them securely around the tank using cellophane tape or plastic rope.
• How it works: Thermocol is an excellent heat insulator, which blocks the 45 degree heat outside and does not allow it to reach the water inside the tank.

4. The 'panacea' of jute sack

• This is our countryside's oldest, most tried-and-true, zero-budget water cooler. Get some old jute or sacks from the junkyard or ration shop. Wrap them tightly around the water tank and tie them with plastic rope to prevent them from blowing away. Once or twice a day, whenever possible, spray water from a hose onto the sacks to moisten them.
• How it works: Just like the water outside the pot evaporates and the water inside remains cool, these wet sacks keep the water cool through the same process of 'evaporation'.

5. Fill the tank in the morning or at night

• This isn't just a tool, but a smart and effective way to incorporate it into your daily routine. Break the habit of filling the tank by running the motor in the scorching midday sun. Always run the water motor early in the morning (before sunrise) or late at night.
• Advantage: Water stored in the tank during cold weather remains refreshing and cool for a long time, as the roof and pipelines are not burning like fire at that time.

6. Plant plants and vines around the tank

• This is a 'natural cooling system' that will not only enhance the beauty of your terrace but also keep the tank cool. If you have limited space on your terrace, place some pots around the tank. Plant giloy, money plants, or any other fast-growing vine in them and let them spread around the tank.
• How it works: Plants release moisture and cool the microclimate around them. These plants provide a natural cooling cover for the tank, preventing it from overheating in the intense sun.

A special tip for you:

Sometimes the water in the tank cools down with these tricks, but the pipes on the walls are still heating up in the sun. So, whenever you go to take a bath, open the tap and fill the first 1-2 buckets of water in another bucket (use this for laundry or toilet purposes). Once the boiling water from the pipes is drained, only fresh, cold water from the tank will flow back!

At a glance: 6 home-grown tricks to keep your water tank cool

PC: NBT