Underground tank leak detection in Al Shfa, Riyadh: without breaking

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

What is specific about Al Shfa for underground tank leak detection

The centre of Al Shfa is at 24.5631, 46.6967, about 16.9 km from the centre of Riyadh, with an approximate radius of 1.2 km. The service-area circle on the map below is drawn from this point. Main roads in or near Al Shfa: Ibn Taymiyyah Street, Dirab Road.

The centre of Al Shfa sits about 617 m above sea level (SRTM open elevation data). The nearest wadi channel is about 1.5 km from the centre of Al Shfa (OpenStreetMap).

Al Shfa sits at 24.5631, 46.6967, about 16.9 km from the centre of Riyadh, with an approximate radius of 1.2 km. That distance matters for planning. Because the area is compact but well outside the dense city core, a technician's arrival and the logistics of moving testing equipment are shaped by the drive out from the centre, so crews plan their visits around that trip rather than treating the site as an inner-city job. Owners of tanks in the district should expect scheduling to be built around a single, focused visit.

The centre of Al Shfa sits about 617 m above sea level, according to SRTM open elevation data. Elevation influences how groundwater and surface water move, and so how a leak may spread. At this height, the approach to testing takes account of how water table conditions and drainage may affect readings around a buried tank. The nearest wadi channel is about 1.5 km from the centre of Al Shfa, according to OpenStreetMap. Wadi channels can carry flash runoff after rain, so the proximity of a seasonal watercourse is a practical reason to check that a tank's surroundings are not exposed to water movement that could mask or mimic a leak signal.

Owners in this area often make the same avoidable errors. They wait for a visible fuel smell or a drop in stock before arranging a check, when a leak can run for some time before it shows. They assume a tank installed far from the city centre is less exposed, overlooking how the local terrain and nearby channels can affect the ground around it. They also postpone recoating when the internal surface is worn, even though tank internal coating is priced at SAR 25–65 per m², so the cost of renewal can be estimated from the tank's surface area before any work begins. Planning a check and a coating review together, rather than in separate emergencies, helps owners avoid these costly mistakes.

The aim is to locate the cause with instruments first, so any opening is limited to one point.

Signs that call for underground tank leak detection

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

• A noticeable drop in the water level overnight
• The pump runs for longer periods
• The tank needs refilling faster than usual

Where the problem usually comes from

• A common cause: a float valve that does not close, so water is wasted.
• Construction joints and corners.
• Cracks in the concrete tank walls or floor.

Tools and methods, and when we use them

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 Shfa

Common questions about underground tank leak detection in Al Shfa

Common mistakes we see

• 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

The written output: the written level-test result and the recommended next step. The report is numbered and can be checked with its verification code.