Water Tanks and Systems

Water tanks, elevated tank in back ground, black polyethylene in foreground, ground storage tank behind black poly tank and hydropneumatic tank to right of poly tank.

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Water Tanks and Systems

Water tanks, elevated tank in back ground, black polyethylene in foreground, ground storage tank behind black poly tank and hydropneumatic tank to right of poly tank.

Many Ground water tank are made of lined carbon steel, receiving water from a water well or from surface water allowing a large volume of water to be placed in inventory and used during peak demand cycles.

Elevated Water Tanks also known as water towers, by elevating the water tank the increased elevation creates a, system distribution, pressure at the tank outlet of 1 psi per 2.31 feet of elevation, thus a tank elevated to 70 feet creates about 30 psi of discharge pressure, 30 psi is sufficient for most domestic and industrial requirements. (background legs shown)

You should consider you Water tank application parameters: include the general design of the tank, its materials of construction.

1. Location of the water tank (indoors, outdoors, above ground or underground)

2. Volume of water tank will need to hold

3. What the water will be used for.

4. Temperature of area where water will be stored, concern for freezing.

5. Pressure requirements

6. How is the water to be delivered into and extracted, pumped out of the water tank.

7. Wind and Earthquake design considerations allow water tanks to survive seismic and high wind events.

From the dawn of history, wood, ceramic and stone were used to build water tanks. These were either naturally occurring or manmade, some tanks and the same materials are still in service today.

Vertical cylindrical dome top tanks may hold from fifty gallons to several million gallons. Horizontal cylindrical tanks are typically used for transport; this low-profile transport storage creates a low center of gravity helping to maintain equilibrium for the transport vehicle, trailer or truck.

Hydro-pneumatic tanks are typically horizontal pressurized storage tanks. Pressurizing this reservoir of water creates a surge free delivery of stored water into the distribution system.

There are many custom configurations that include various rectangular cube shaped tanks, cone bottom and special shapes for specific design requirements.

By design a water tank/container should do no harm to the water. Water is susceptible to a number of ambient negative influences, including bacteria, viruses, algae, changes in pH, and accumulation of minerals. Correctly designed water tank systems work to mitigate these negative effects.

Articles and specifications for Water Tank applications and design considerations: American Water Works Association The AWWA is a reservoir of water tank knowledge; the association provides specifications for a variety of water storage tank applications as well as design. The AWWA's site provides scientific resources with which the reader will be able to develop an informed perspective on which to make decisions regarding their water tank requirements.

NSF International writes standards, inspects and confirms that manufactured products that come into contact with air, food, consumer goods and water are suitable for human consumption.

The Food and Drug Administration approves materials for use in storing water and food materials. Consult the Code of Federal Register for more details on water tanks.