Four Ways to use an Above Ground Storage Tank
Above Ground Tanks have many uses - waste, rainwater harvesting or water storage - discover the best solution for you with Plastic Solution's range.
If you’re looking for above ground water or waste storage, we’ve compiled the benefits for you in one handy blog. Where are they used? How will they work for you? Read on to find out more.
Above ground storage tanks offer a number of benefits.
- Made from a one-piece moulding using strong and durable plastic polymer (MDPE), they are robust, impact-resistant, long-lasting, UV-stabilised and rust free.
- Available in a range of volumes (from 2500 to 30,000 litres) and tanks can be linked together to extend capacity.
- Cylindrical in shape with strengthening ribs.
- Rotationally moulded using a heated, hollow mould filled with plastic polymer, guaranteeing consistent quality and dimensions.
- Lightweight plastic means manufacturing costs are less than their metal counterparts.
- The product is cheaper and easier to transport, reducing your carbon footprint.
- A range of accessories to suit your application.
So, what are they used for?
There are many, many uses for Above Ground Storage Tanks but the main applications we most often encounter fall into the following categories:
We are all aware that the cost of many everyday essentials such as electricity, gas and water has been steadily increasing. With that in mind, who wouldn’t be interested in reducing costs by harvesting a natural and free resource, rainwater?
With some careful planning (and some expert advice from us) you could be reaping the eco-friendly rewards of harvesting rainwater, such as:
- reducing your reliance on treated, mains water by using rainwater for everyday tasks
Uses for rainwater harvested from your above ground storage tank include:
- to flush toilets - great for welfare cabins on construction sites or for camping toilet blocks
- to water gardens and plants, sports field irrigation, yard cleaning
- to wash down machinery or vehicles
- to use as ballast or dust suppression on construction sites and at industrial premises
- to provide an extra resource in the unfortunate event of fire
An above ground storage tank is easy to maintain: all of your drainage pipes, filters and vents will be in sight and easily accessible. This is good news when it comes to maintenance and inspection: we all welcome quick and simple ways to make life easier.
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If you don’t have mains water on site and/or you’re not able to harvest rainwater from a building roof, you might still use an above ground tank to store non-potable water brought to your site by a delivery vehicle tanker, for example. In this case, we’ll be able to advise you on suitable connections (a) for the water to be pumped into the tank from the delivery vehicle and (b) drain valves so that you can access that water, usually from a point near the base of the tank.
Did you know, the water in non-potable tanks could be used to:
- flush toilets
- provide water on construction sites or civil engineering applications
- mix cement or to suppress dust, to wash down machinery or vehicles
- provide an extra resource in the unfortunate event of fire
- collect grey water from a mobile shower and washing block
3. Potable (Drinking) Water Storage
Above Ground Storage tanks are moulded using “WRAS-approved” plastic polymer. WRAS stands for Water Regulations Approvals Scheme: an independent UK certification body for plumbing products and materials, helping business and consumers choose products that don’t cause any detrimental effects on the safety or quality of the drinking water.
The means of filling these tanks also needs to be WRAS-compliant so that your water remains potable: e.g. mains rising water from an approved source or tankered water delivery using approved stainless steel water delivery tanks.
Potable above ground storage tanks are a great way to store drinking water. They can be used:
- where mains water isn’t accessible,
- for a temporary water supply for events, festivals or a temporary camping sites
- as a back-up emergency drinking water supply
- for food industry applications.
The construction industry tends to use toilet waste tanks on remote or greenfield sites where there is no mains sewer available. New and/or remote construction sites might typically use a potable or non-potable water tank for their water supply, connect this to their site accommodation (kitchen, toilets, showers), and then collect the subsequent waste in a toilet waste tank - all off-grid.
By the same token, the outdoor event industry may put toilet and sanitation facilities in place for large crowds at off-grid locations. In many cases, the volume of waste created over short periods of time (e.g. toilet visits during concert intermissions) may require additional storage, in which case large above ground storage tanks are connected to toilet blocks or are placed on site as waste transfer stations.
Above ground storage tanks for toilet waste use additional plastic polymer as the density of the waste is higher. We typically mould toilet waste tanks to withstand a specific gravity of 1.5 - water tanks are moulded to a specific gravity of 1.
These waste tanks can be configured in many ways, with:
- fittings to get the waste into the tank
- drain valves to remove the waste when the tank is full
- breather valves and bolt down feet
- liquid level sight glasses and linking kits
If you’re interested in using an Above Ground Storage Tank for any of the above applications or if you have any questions, please get in touch!
More Information
Read more about above ground rainwater harvesting tanks
Read more about potable and non potable above ground storage tanks
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