**Please note Versatile Tanks DO NOT repair water tanks**
Water tanks are used extensively across Australia for the safe storage of liquid. While they’re often made of concrete, tanks like these can also be manufactured from steel, stone, fibreglass or plastic.
A vital addition to your company premises, concrete water tanks, in particular, offer suitable, safe storage for water for everything from drinking to fire suppression.
Want to know more about concrete water tanks? We’ve compiled the ultimate Q&A guide for you. Answering all your questions and queries, it should be your very first port of call if you’d like to know something specific about concrete water tanks. Read on…
So, who needs a concrete water tank?
Anyone who is looking to preserve and safely store water for drinking or for putting out fires can greatly benefit from purchasing a concrete water tank.
Unlike their plastic counterparts, concrete water tanks will withstand bushfires too – which makes them perfect for those living and working in Australia, where bushfires are rife.
Proven to be free from algae, cryptosporidium and Legionnaires disease, concrete water tanks are also ideal for those of you want to keep their water much cooler via a durable, long-lasting solution.
An effective fire shield between adjacent spaces, concrete is the perfect material for water tanks. On top of this, it won’t cause any damage to internal concrete and its durability means it’ll be a purchase you simply won’t regret.
If all the above wasn’t enough to convince you that your business needs a concrete water tank, did you also know that tanks like these won’t drop molten particles when they’re exposed to fire? That’s right; you can keep yourself and your employees safe and they’ll be no damage to any internal concrete, either.
How much does a concrete water tank cost?
This has got to be one of the more frequently-asked questions: how much does a concrete water tank cost?
As with most pieces of equipment of this size and nature, the cost really depends on your requirements. What we will say, though, is whether you’re living and working in the city or rurally, a concrete water tank will prove a good investment.
How does a concrete water tank work?
If you’ve ever wondered how a concrete water tank works, allow us to answer a few of your queries in one fell swoop.
Solving a multitude of problems, concrete water tanks are easy to install and purpose-built. But how do they work?
Working hard to naturally reduce the acidity in rainwater, concrete tanks are placed in the ground to maximise your land area. Boosting the cooling of your water – to ensure it’s healthier to drink than standard drinking water – concrete water tanks are efficient and cost-effective.
Is a concrete tank better for storing drinking water?
The answer is ‘yes’! Eventually, any water that is left to sit in one place for too long will become stagnant and therefore unfit for human consumption.
Of course, anything from the temperature of the water to how it is stored will affect the quality of it.
But if you store water safely in a concrete tank, you’ll be producing your own spring water – which is generally considered to be the best water you can drink.
So, why is concrete the best material to store water in? Water needs to be able to balance out to a neutral Ph – and the only manmade storage system which will allow this to happen is concrete.
Absorbing some of the minerals from the concrete, water will generally settle in a slightly alkaline state, meaning it is safer to drink.
What are the benefits of a concrete water tank?
There are all sorts of reasons you should have a concrete water tank installed, but to help you out here are three, at-a-glance benefits for you to mull over.
- They’re available in bespoke sizes and shapes – Concrete water tanks aren’t all rectangular in shape; some are circular and all can be lowered in height to meet your unique requirements. You might need to change the size of your proposed water tank half way through the planning stage (often, underground features of your site aren’t determined until you’ve got the ball well and truly rolling), so you’ll find that being able to make size changes will take away at a lot of stress
- Choice – There’s plenty of choice when it comes to installation. Choose Versatile Tanks and your contractors will always be on your side. Versatility is one of our strong points here, so we’ll work closely with you to ensure installation is easy and quick
- A structure that’s seamless – With no joins, the walls of a Versatile Tank are pretty much leak-proof. That’s good to know, of course, if you have a large amount of soggy ground to contend with. Our tanks are manufactured away from the elements, too, so they won’t suffer from any micro cracks either.
Are there any downsides to concrete water tanks?
Due to the fact that concrete is not flexible, it can be subject to expansion and contraction. Over time, the concrete can be weakened – but there are plenty of easy ways this can be remedied should cracks appear.
As concrete is porous, leaching can occur in storage tanks of this kind. To reduce the likelihood of this, though, your concrete tank can be sealed.
Why should I choose concrete for my tank over another material?
Water tanks are available in several materials, so why choose concrete? While plastic is one of the most common materials out there, it is known as a cheap option. It doesn’t corrode but then it won’t last as long in other respects. Poly plastic water tanks are limited to relatively small dimensions, and for any tank which needs to hold more water, a stronger material will be required.
So, what about steel? The modern replacement for the galvanised iron tanks that were offered in the past, steel offers good durability and is lightweight as well. Due to tanks like these being so light, though, ground water and flooding can cause it to rise up and float – unless they are made solid enough to remain in place.
How is a concrete water tank constructed?
Have you ever wondered how a mammoth piece of equipment like a concrete water tank is actually constructed? Well, wonder no more…
They can be incorporated into house drawings and plans, as well as commercial building submissions, and they’re used for extinguishing fires and providing safe, clean water.
Manufactured in a factory, concrete water tanks are made in a seamless mould. What this means for anyone considering having one installed is you can be sure there’ll be no leaks. Used by plumbers, excavators and builders, concrete water tanks are designed to be modular.
Sitting tightly next to each other, tanks like these can only be used on certain sites. They’re designed so well that they can handle applied loads, and each one is customised entirely to your needs.
Their clever design also means they can be buried underground or installed on a driveway, patio or in a garage.
Constructed above or below ground, the base of the tank needs to be flat if it’s to be positioned properly on your land. Laser-levelled – with around 150ml of compacted road base – a concrete water tank is heavy. Of course, this also means it needs to be laid down on foundations which can stand its weight and size.
Will there be much disruption to my business during installation?
Installation of a concrete water tank isn’t going to happen overnight. That said, it’ll be a smooth and stress-free process, providing you plan well and put a few necessary steps in place.
For the installation process to go to plan, you must first ask for permission from your local authorities, before checking the plans provided by the authorities for gas, sewer, electricity, telephone mains and storm water services.
Now, it’s about preparing for the installation process by booking the equipment you need. Have you ordered a crane, for instance? It’s worth knowing that Versatile Tanks have four x five swift pins installed into the walls.
You’ll also need to order a pump system, and check the weather forecast. Last but not least, a thorough risk assessment of your site will be required ahead of installation. Want to know more about the installation process? Click here for a thorough rundown.
Why are concrete water tanks a great idea in Australia?
If you live here in Oz, you’ll know that our climate means rain water is scarce. Being prepared is absolutely key here, then – and by having a water tank installed you can hang onto that precious rain water for longer.
Of course, you’ll be more at risk if you live in a more isolated, rural area, but the Versatile Tanks team works across Australia to ensure that water shortage becomes less and less of a problem.
Want to know more?
Do you have more questions about water tanks and their uses? Get in touch with the team at Versatile Water Tanks, who’ll be more than happy to help.