Underground tank leak detection in Qrtba, Riyadh: without breaking

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

Underground tank leak detection in Qrtba: the local context

The centre of Qrtba is at 24.8132, 46.7329, about 12.5 km from the centre of Riyadh, with an approximate radius of 3.5 km. The approximate area shown on the map is centred here. The centre of Qrtba sits about 624 m above sea level (SRTM open elevation data).

Main roads in or near Qrtba: Dammam Road, Airport Road, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Road.

A homeowner in Qrtba notices that the water bill has crept up for no clear reason, or that the ground near the garden tap feels unusually damp even though it has not rained. The property has an underground storage tank, and the owner is unsure whether something is leaking. Opening the ground to look would be disruptive and expensive, so the sensible first question is how to find out what is happening without breaking anything.

Qrtba sits at roughly 24.8132 degrees north and 46.7329 east, about 12.5 km from the centre of Riyadh, within an approximate radius of 3.5 km. That places it on the city's outer edge, where many residential plots have their own buried tanks rather than relying solely on a shared network. The centre of the area is about 624 m above sea level. For an owner, this means that tanks here are often filled and drawn on regularly, and that any change in the water level or in how quickly a tank empties is worth noticing. Being on the periphery also means that a leak may be hard to tell apart from ordinary use unless the readings are tracked over time.

The practical route begins with recording. Note the date, the meter reading and the tank level each week for several weeks, while keeping water use steady. Next, look for the obvious signs: a wet patch, greener grass in one spot, or a sudden drop that does not match usage. If the pattern suggests a leak, arrange a non-invasive test that checks for loss without excavation, and ask for the results in writing. Only after that should any decision about repair be considered, starting with the least disruptive fix. Where the tank's interior needs attention, the coating itself is priced at SAR 25–65 per m², so comparing written quotes before agreeing to any work is a sound step.

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

When do you need 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
• Damp or salt marks on the tiles above the tank

Causes we see in the field

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

How we choose the tool in Qrtba

From the first visit to the report

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.

Quick comparison: facts and costs in Qrtba

Short answers for Qrtba

Common mistakes we see

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

The written outputs

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