Underground tank leak detection for residential buildings in Al Aml, Riyadh

Prepared by the technical team · editorial review · last updated 13 November 2026 · Sources

Before we start: what we know about Al Aml

The centre of Al Aml is at 24.6459, 46.7226, about 8.9 km from the centre of Riyadh, with an approximate radius of 1.2 km. The approximate area shown on the map is centred here. The centre of Al Aml sits about 591 m above sea level (SRTM open elevation data).

Main roads in or near Al Aml: Abdulaziz bin Musaed bin Jalawi Street, Prince Abdulaziz bin Musaed bin Jalawi, Omar bin Al-Khattab Road.

An owner of a residential building with an underground tank often notices a problem only after the signs have already built up. The water bill rises a little without explanation, the pump runs longer than usual, or damp patches appear on a nearby wall or in the car park. Because the tank sits out of sight, these early warnings are easy to dismiss, yet they are exactly the moments when a quiet leak can be found and dealt with before it spreads.

The location of Al Aml matters here. The centre of the district lies at 24.6459, 46.7226, roughly 8.9 km from the centre of Riyadh, and the area covers an approximate radius of 1.2 km. That makes it a compact, built-up neighbourhood where many buildings draw on tanks of similar age and construction. The centre of Al Aml sits about 591 m above sea level, so the ground and drainage behave in a fairly consistent way across the district. For an owner, this means that a leak in one building is worth checking against the wider pattern of nearby properties, and that the costs of protecting the tank itself are worth weighing early. Tank internal coating is priced at SAR 25–70 per m², so the size of the tank determines how much a repair or recoating will cost, and a small leak caught early usually keeps that figure low.

A practical sequence helps. First, record the meter reading and compare it with the same period in previous months to confirm the rise is real. Second, check the tank level and the pump run times, and note any change. Third, inspect the accessible walls, the access cover and nearby ground for dampness or staining. Fourth, arrange a proper inspection of the tank interior so the coating and any cracks can be assessed directly. Finally, agree on a written scope of repair with the figures stated per square metre, so the work can be checked against the measured area before any payment is made.

For a whole building, a survey of the shared systems comes before unit-by-unit work.

Signs that call for underground tank leak detection

These are the signs most often linked to underground tank leak detection:

• The tank needs refilling faster than usual
• Damp or salt marks on the tiles above the tank
• A noticeable drop in the water level overnight
• The pump runs for longer periods

The most common causes

• A common cause: construction joints and corners.
• Cracks in the concrete tank walls or floor — we check this before anything else.
• A float valve that does not close, so water is wasted.

How we choose the tool in Al Aml

How the work is done, step by step

1. Safety first: Tank lids and confined spaces are handled with ventilation and a second person on site.
2. Documented level test: Filling and use are stopped and the level is recorded against time.
3. Isolating the tank from the network: This tells us whether the loss is from the tank body or from the supply line.
4. Checking the body and connections: Inlet, outlet and overflow connections are inspected.
5. Recommendation: You get the next step in writing: repair, waterproofing or a line test.

Facts and costs — Al Aml

Short answers for Al Aml

Mistakes that cost more

• Waterproofing the tank before confirming the loss is from the tank and not the line
• Ignoring the float valve

What you get after the work

You receive: the written level-test result and the recommended next step, in a technical report with a verification code.