Who is responsible in a building or complex?

Those responsible for the building's maintenance and upkeep (Article 10, item 3, of Decreto 1575 de 2007). In Bogotá, Resolución 2190 de 1991 of the District Health Secretariat refers to the building management and requires a notice to be posted before cleaning (Article 2).

What does the food rule require for the tank?

That the establishment has a tank with capacity for one working day, easy to access for periodic cleaning and disinfection under the sanitation plan (Article 6, item 3.5, of Resolución 2674 de 2013), and that the plan documents maintenance, cleaning and disinfection of pipework and tank, with supporting records (Article 26, item 4).

CO · Expiry & renewal tracking

Don't miss the six-monthly cleaning of your building's or plant's water tanks

Every water user in Colombia must clean and disinfect drinking-water storage tanks at least every six months; in collective buildings those in charge of maintenance are responsible (Article 10 of Decreto 1575 de 2007). There is no grace period, and health authorities may inspect and apply sanitary safety measures.

Decreto 1575 de 2007 sets up the system for protecting and controlling the quality of water for human consumption and applies to water suppliers and distributors, territorial health directorates, environmental and health authorities and users (Article 1). Every user is responsible for keeping their in-building water distribution and storage installations in adequate sanitary condition, and must therefore clean and disinfect their storage tanks and pipework at least every six (6) months and keep the service connection and internal pipework in proper working order (Article 10, items 1 and 2).

In public and private buildings, housing complexes, food factories, hospitals, hotels, schools, prisons and other buildings where people gather, those responsible for maintenance and upkeep must clean and disinfect the drinking-water storage tanks at least every six (6) months, and the health authority may inspect whenever it sees fit (Article 10, item 3). Departmental, district and municipal health directorates supervise water quality (Article 8) and may apply sanitary safety measures where there is an imminent risk to public health (Article 34). Water suppliers, for their part, must clean and disinfect their treated-water tanks before putting them into service and at least twice (2) a year (Article 9, item 2).

For food establishments, Resolución 2674 de 2013 requires a water storage tank with enough capacity for one working day, easy to access for periodic cleaning and disinfection as set out in the sanitation plan (Article 6, item 3.5), and requires that plan to document the water supply process, including maintenance, cleaning and disinfection of pipework and storage tank, with supporting records (Article 26, item 4). In Bogotá, in addition, Resolución 2190 de 1991 of the District Health Secretariat provides that building water tanks be cleaned and disinfected at least twice a year, and after repair if damage or seepage is found, and that in buildings, complexes, food factories, hospitals, hotels, schools and similar premises a notice be posted before cleaning (Article 2).

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At a glance

Frequency	At least every six (6) months (Article 10, items 1 and 3, of Decreto 1575 de 2007)
Who does it	Every user; in buildings, complexes, food factories, hospitals, hotels, schools, prisons and buildings where people gather, those responsible for maintenance and upkeep (Article 10)
What it covers	Cleaning and disinfection of storage tanks and pipework; upkeep of the service connection and internal pipework (Article 10, items 1 and 2)
Water utilities	Cleaning and disinfection of treated-water tanks before operation and at least twice (2) a year (Article 9, item 2)
Food establishments	Tank easy to access for periodic cleaning and disinfection, and a sanitation plan with records (Articles 6, item 3.5, and 26, item 4, of Resolución 2674 de 2013)
Bogotá	At least twice a year, with prior notice in collective buildings (Article 2 of Resolución 2190 de 1991 of the District Health Secretariat)
Who supervises	Departmental, district and municipal health directorates, which may inspect and apply sanitary safety measures (Articles 8, 10 and 34 of Decreto 1575 de 2007)

The decree sets a maximum interval of six months without naming months of the year; the date of the last documented cleaning is the reference for scheduling the next one.

Who is responsible?

The obligation lies with every user for their in-building installations and, in buildings where people gather, with those responsible for maintenance and upkeep, such as the building or complex management or the maintenance team of the factory, hotel, school or hospital (Article 10 of Decreto 1575 de 2007). In food establishments, the owner must keep a written sanitation plan available to the health authority, with the tank cleaning and disinfection records (Article 26 of Resolución 2674 de 2013).

If the deadline passes

Decreto 1575 de 2007 provides no grace period once the six months are up. The health authority may inspect whenever it sees fit (Article 10, item 3) and territorial health directorates may apply sanitary safety measures where there is an imminent risk to public health (Article 34). In food establishments, failure to follow the sanitation plan is subject to the safety measures and sanctions of Ley 09 de 1979 (Article 52 of Resolución 2674 de 2013).

One tank, two records a year; several tanks, several dates

A building with an underground tank and a rooftop tank, or a plant with several reservoirs, has several cleaning dates. Keeping proof of each job (date, tank, disinfectant) serves both the health inspection under Article 10 of Decreto 1575 de 2007 and the sanitation-plan records under Article 26 of Resolución 2674 de 2013.

Tracking it with ExpirySuite

Add each storage tank as a record (per site or building) and enter as the expiry date six months after the last documented cleaning and disinfection.
Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before and on the day, in time to book the service and, in collective buildings, to warn occupants about the water cut.
The service provider or maintenance lead can upload the cleaning certificate or report through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account; then move the expiry date six months forward.
Assign the building management or maintenance team as the responsible person; if the date passes without cleaning, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.

Frequently asked questions

How often must water tanks be cleaned and disinfected?: At least every six (6) months, both for any user's tanks and pipework and for the tanks of buildings, complexes, food factories, hospitals, hotels, schools, prisons and other buildings where people gather (Article 10, items 1 and 3, of Decreto 1575 de 2007).
Who is responsible in a building or complex?: Those responsible for the building's maintenance and upkeep (Article 10, item 3, of Decreto 1575 de 2007). In Bogotá, Resolución 2190 de 1991 of the District Health Secretariat refers to the building management and requires a notice to be posted before cleaning (Article 2).
What does the food rule require for the tank?: That the establishment has a tank with capacity for one working day, easy to access for periodic cleaning and disinfection under the sanitation plan (Article 6, item 3.5, of Resolución 2674 de 2013), and that the plan documents maintenance, cleaning and disinfection of pipework and tank, with supporting records (Article 26, item 4).
Does the water utility have the same obligation?: Water suppliers must clean and disinfect treated-water storage tanks before putting them into service and at least twice (2) a year (Article 9, item 2, of Decreto 1575 de 2007); the user's obligation for their own tanks is separate (Article 10).

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 drinking water tank cleaning and disinfection (Colombia)

A ready template for drinking water tank cleaning and disinfection (Colombia) 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 drinking water tank cleaning and disinfection (Colombia) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.

Assign an owner

Give each drinking water tank cleaning and disinfection (Colombia) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.