How often must tank water be tested in Buenos Aires City?

At least once a year: the association or administrator must have a bacteriological and physico-chemical analysis of the tank water carried out (Law 6040, Art. 3, item b).

Is six-monthly cleaning still mandatory?

Ordinance 45.593, which set six-monthly cleaning, was abrogated by Law 6040 (Art. 9 of the original text). Today the association sets a cleaning and disinfection plan and records its frequency in the Minutes Book (Art. 2).

What if the analysis fails?

If the water does not meet the ERAS standards, the association or administrator must clean and disinfect the tanks within fifteen calendar days (Art. 3, item c).

Does it apply to shops and businesses?

Yes, where applicable, provided there is no other specific regulation and the enforcement authority does not decide otherwise (Art. 5 of the consolidated text).

AR · Expiry & renewal tracking

Keep your yearly water tank analysis from running out

In Buenos Aires City the owners' association or its administrator must have the tank water tested bacteriologically and physico-chemically at least once a year (Law 6040, Article 3(b)). If the water fails the ERAS standards, the tanks must be cleaned and disinfected within 15 calendar days (Article 3(c)).

Law 6040 of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires regulates the cleaning and disinfection of drinking-water storage tanks in buildings under the horizontal property (condominium) regime, to keep the water fit for human consumption and protect people's health (Article 1). The owners' association or building administrator sets a plan for cleaning, maintaining and disinfecting the tanks, and the frequency of these tasks must be recorded in the Minutes Book of the owners' meeting (Article 2).

In addition, the association or administrator must periodically check the installations to keep the water sealed, and have a bacteriological and physico-chemical analysis of the water in the tanks carried out at least once a year (Article 3, items a and b). If the analysis shows that the water does not meet the standards of the Water and Sanitation Regulatory Body (ERAS), or the body replacing it, the tanks must be cleaned and disinfected within fifteen calendar days (Article 3, item c).

Where applicable, and unless there is specific regulation or the enforcement authority decides otherwise, the law also applies to commercial activities in the City (Article 5 of the consolidated text; Article 8 of the original text). Law 6040 abrogated Ordinance 45.593, which required tanks to be cleaned every six months (Article 9 of the original text).

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At a glance

Water analysis	Bacteriological and physico-chemical, at least once a year (Law 6040, Art. 3, item b)
Who must comply	Owners' association or administrator of buildings under the horizontal property regime (Arts. 2 and 3)
Cleaning plan	Cleaning, maintenance and disinfection plan, with its frequency recorded in the owners' meeting Minutes Book (Art. 2)
If the water fails	Clean and disinfect the tanks within 15 calendar days (Art. 3, item c)
Quality standard	That of the Water and Sanitation Regulatory Body (ERAS) or the body replacing it (Art. 3, item c)
Shops and businesses	The law also applies to commercial activities, where applicable (Art. 5 of the consolidated text)
Non-compliance	Penalised under Chapter II 'Hygiene and Health' of the City Offences Regime, Law 451 (Art. 4)

A rule of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires; it does not apply outside the City. Law 6040 was passed on 8/11/2018 and published in the City's Official Gazette on 6/12/2018; it was consolidated as Law H - No. 6.040 by Law 6.764 (text updated to 29/02/2024, according to the Official Gazette record). The official record shows no amending or repealing rules.

Who is responsible?

The owners' association or the administrator of the building under the horizontal property regime: it sets the cleaning and disinfection plan, checks the installations, orders the yearly water analysis and, if the result fails the standards, cleans and disinfects the tanks (Law 6040, Arts. 2 and 3). For commercial activities, the law applies where relevant (Art. 5 of the consolidated text).

If the deadline passes

Failing to carry out the yearly bacteriological and physico-chemical analysis, or to clean and disinfect the tanks when the water fails the standards, is an offence under Chapter II 'Hygiene and Health' of the City Offences Regime, Law 451 (Law 6040, Arts. 4 to 7 of the original text, which amended Article 1.2.3 and added Articles 1.2.3 bis and 1.2.3 ter). Fine amounts are not reproduced on this page. Falsifying or altering data or documents on cleaning, disinfection or analysis is also an offence (Art. 1.2.3 ter).

Analysis and cleaning are two different things

The law sets a yearly minimum for the water analysis (Art. 3, item b) but lets the association set the frequency of cleaning and disinfection in its plan, recorded in the Minutes Book (Art. 2). Track the analysis with its own expiry date and, separately, the cleaning according to the frequency approved by the owners' meeting.

Tracking it with ExpirySuite

Add each building or association and record the date of the last analysis plus twelve months as its expiry; if several tanks are tested on different dates, create one record for each.
Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before expiry and on the expiry day, leaving time to book sampling with the laboratory.
The laboratory or cleaning company can upload the analysis report through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
Assign a responsible person, such as the building administrator; if an analysis expires, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.

Frequently asked questions

How often must tank water be tested in Buenos Aires City?: At least once a year: the association or administrator must have a bacteriological and physico-chemical analysis of the tank water carried out (Law 6040, Art. 3, item b).
Is six-monthly cleaning still mandatory?: Ordinance 45.593, which set six-monthly cleaning, was abrogated by Law 6040 (Art. 9 of the original text). Today the association sets a cleaning and disinfection plan and records its frequency in the Minutes Book (Art. 2).
What if the analysis fails?: If the water does not meet the ERAS standards, the association or administrator must clean and disinfect the tanks within fifteen calendar days (Art. 3, item c).
Does it apply to shops and businesses?: Yes, where applicable, provided there is no other specific regulation and the enforcement authority does not decide otherwise (Art. 5 of the consolidated text).

Sources

Last checked: Oct 11, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.

Made for annual water tank bacteriological and physico-chemical analysis (Buenos Aires City, Argentina)

A ready template for annual water tank bacteriological and physico-chemical analysis (Buenos Aires City, Argentina) with sensible validity defaults, so you enter less and track more.

Reminders on time

Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each annual water tank bacteriological and physico-chemical analysis (Buenos Aires City, Argentina) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.

Assign an owner

Give each annual water tank bacteriological and physico-chemical analysis (Buenos Aires City, Argentina) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.