Chemical, Elevated, Hydropneumatic and Ground Storage Water Tanks shown together in one installation.
Water tanks are storage containers for water, these tanks are usually storing water for human consumption. The need for water tanks is as old as civilized man. Water tanks exist in many forms and a variety of materials. Water tanks provide for the storage of drinking water, irrigation, fire suppression, agricultural farming and livestock, chemical manufacturing, food preparation and many other applications.
Various of materials have been used for constructing water tanks: plastic, polyethylene, polypropylene, fiberglass, concrete, steel (welded or bolted, carbon or stainless). Earthen ponds are also often referred to as tanks. Description of water tanks to the left on a current municipal water storage tank system: Elevated ground storage tank of carbon steel with AWWA liner, the elevation creates a pressurized water volume at the rate of 1 psi per 2.31 feet of elevation. Hydro-pneumatic water tank, a AWWA lined carbon steel pressure vessel, is designed to provide pressurized water to the distribution system. Chemical contact tanks of FDA and NSF polyethylene construction, allow retention time for water and chemicals to be in contact and mix. A large 'Ground water tank' is made of lined carbon steel, receives water from well or surface water allowing a large volume of water to be put in inventory and used during peak demand cycles.
Water Tank design begins with the applications requirements, thus the type of material used and the design of the tank will be dictated by varibles:
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 required to deliver water
6. How is the water to be delivered to the water tank, ie, a. water well, b. surface lakes, rivers, ponds and streams, piping. c. rain water accumulation systems.
An old-fashioned water tank near Twentynine Palms, California
Stone water tank in the stronghold of
Felsenburg Neurathen, Saxony, Germany
Throughout history, wood, ceramic and stone have been used as water tanks. These were both naturally occuring and manmade and some tanks are still in service.
The Indus Valley Civilization (3000–1500 BCE) made use of granaries and water tanks.[1] Medieval castles needed water tanks for the defenders to withstand a siege.
[2] A wooden water tank found at the Año Nuevo State Reserve (California) was restored to functionality after being found completely overgrown with ivy. It had been built in 1884.[3]
A. Vertical cylindrical dome top tanks can hold from fifty gallons to several million gallons. B. Horizontal cylindrical tanks are typically used for transport, low-profile storage C. Hydro-pneumatic storage, pressure tanks used to create a surge free delivery of stored water. There are many other custom configurations that include various rectangular cube, cone bottom and special shapes for specific design requirements.
A functional 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 on Water Tank application and design considerations [4]
The American Water Works Association provides specifications for a variety of water storage tank applications. The National Sanitation Foundation inspects and confirms that a water tank manufacturer constructs its products in the manner it stipulates. The Food and Drug Administration approves materials for use in storing water and food materials. The AWWA's site will provide scientific resources which will give the reader an informed perspective on which to make decisions.
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Contents
- 1 Other uses
- 2 Trivia
- 3 See also
- 4 External links
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Other uses
Flight simulators use elaborate water tanks for the simulation of weightlessness. Water tanks fabricated to resemble space craft interiors are suspended in large swimming pool like environments, giving astronauts the feeling approximating zero gravity.
The Airline industry uses elaborate water tanks to simulate, aircraft emergency water landings and the performance of the airplane upon entry to the water.
Trivia
- Glenbrook, New South Wales was originally known as Watertank due to it being the stop off point of the original "little" zigzag.
See also
- cistern
- rainwater tank
- water tower
- domestic water system
External links
- American Water Works Association
- National Safety Foundation
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Categories: Agriculture | Agronomy | Irrigation | Water supply
