Pros and Cons of Various Water Storage Tanks

Storing rainwater at home has many advantages, not the least of which is a reduction in your home's water bill! Storing and using rainwater is also a very eco-friendly decision as it means less water that needs to be cleaned by your city just for watering your lawn or garden or for jobs like washing your home's exterior. Since rainwater can be stored in a variety of tanks, it's good to understand some pros and cons of various tank materials so you can choose the best one for your property.

Steel

Steel tanks are very strong and durable, and they have the advantage of being easily fabricated. You can then have a steel tank made onsite so your water tank can easily fit around landscaping trees and other such obstacles. This can also allow you to have a larger water tank that you might not otherwise be able to have delivered to a residential property. However, steel does need special corrosion protection, which can make it more expensive than other materials, and the seams and rivets of a steel tank might be prone to leaking.

Poly

Plastic or poly tanks are very strong and durable and are made in one piece, so there are no seams or rivets that would increase the risk of leaking. These tanks are also very lightweight, so you can typically buy a larger tank and easily set it up yourself and take it with you to a new property if you should move.

One drawback to plastic or poly is that you often cannot legally use recycled plastic in the production of water tanks, so choosing a poly tank means that new plastic would be manufactured and used. This might not be a very eco-friendly option as that production process often includes lots of fumes and emissions.

Concrete

Concrete is a very popular option for underground tanks because the material is strong enough to be placed under a driveway or walkway, and it won't buckle or bend from that added weight. As with steel, concrete can also be fabricated onsite, so you can have a water tank made to your exact specifications. For potable water, concrete tanks may require a liner, which can add to their expense; otherwise, they're usually a very affordable option for water tanks. The downside of concrete is that it may absorb substances like lime from the soil around it, so the water in a concrete tank may need to be cleaned and filtered before any use.

If you need a 10000 litre water tank or a tank of any other size, talk with a tank expert to ensure your tank is made of the right material.