Underground tank leak detection for restaurants in Al Shmysy, Riyadh

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

Before we start: what we know about Al Shmysy

The centre of Al Shmysy is at 24.6238, 46.7000, about 10.3 km from the centre of Riyadh, with an approximate radius of 1.2 km. The approximate area shown on the map is centred here. Main roads in or near Al Shmysy: King Fahd Road, Asir, Madinah Road.

The nearest wadi channel is about 1.4 km from the centre of Al Shmysy (OpenStreetMap). The centre of Al Shmysy sits about 587 m above sea level (SRTM open elevation data).

Underground tanks at restaurants most often fail quietly. A grease trap overflow, a corroded fitting on a fuel or water tank, or a slow seep through a joint can go unnoticed for weeks because the surface looks normal. For a busy kitchen, the first sign is usually a change in consumption, a damp patch in the yard, or a smell that comes and goes. Our approach for restaurants in Al Shmysy starts with listening for those signs before we open any ground, then testing the tank itself to confirm where the loss is happening.

Al Shmysy sits at about 587 m above sea level, and its centre lies at 24.6238, 46.7000, roughly 10.3 km from the centre of Riyadh. Within a radius of about 1.2 km, the ground and drainage behave differently from one street to the next. The nearest wadi channel is about 1.4 km from the centre, so rainfall can move through the area quickly and carry moisture toward low points. That matters for underground tanks, because water that collects around a tank can mask a leak or make a dry-looking site appear wet. We therefore read the surrounding ground and drainage pattern alongside the tank records before drawing any conclusion about where a leak is.

Before the visit, ask the technician to confirm the tank's material, its age, and whether an internal coating has been applied or repaired. Coating work is priced in the range of SAR 25–70 per m², so knowing the tank's surface area helps you understand the scope of any repair. Ask whether the visit will cover the exact location of the tank, the piping route, and the grease trap if it connects to the same drainage line. Ask for a clear written note of what was tested, what was found, and what the next step would cost before any work begins. A restaurant owner should leave the visit knowing exactly where the problem is and what options exist.

For restaurants, visits are planned outside service hours and recorded for the premises file.

Signs worth paying attention to

If you notice one of these signs in Al Shmysy, it is a good moment to talk to the team:

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

The most common causes

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

Tools we use in Al Shmysy

The steps in order

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 Shmysy

Questions from Al Shmysy

Common mistakes we see

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

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.