Many Americans might be surprised to know how much water is currently being held underground. Underground water tanks are across the country, as are other types of tanks that safely contain chemicals. Water is held for a variety of different reasons; not all water held in water tanks is meant to be drinkable. However, it is meant to stay as clean as possible, and easily accessible. But keeping water clean and free of contamination in an underground water tank is often easier said than done. Though there are certain standards required for all underground storage tanks, water tanks in particular need to be kept as contained as possible. While water will not necessarily have a negative effect if it leaks underground, if the water itself is contaminated people can potentially be harmed.

There are multiple approaches to ensuring that the water within an underground tank is kept clean and secure. This could involve plating tanks, or using tank liners. Liner products are varied, in order to ensure that as many tanks as possible can be properly reinforced. With that being said, let’s look into why plating tanks and the use of water tank liners are used, and how they can be used.

Why Is It Important To Reinforce Water Tanks?

Drinking water is more easily compromised than you might think. While water can potentially be recycled and reused in certain systems, drinking water must be meticulously cleaned, and once contaminated it often can’t be used for the same purposes. A few different things can happen when water is contained in underground tanks. Either the water itself can seep out through cracks, which would mean, essentially, a loss of money; or contaminants like bacteria, fungi, and pathogens can contaminate the water directly. Both are very problematic, but when the water is contaminated the issue is far more concerning. Ideally, this type of contamination would always be caught. But at times, the contamination of water has escaped notice, leading to catastrophic consequences. This is why it’s actually required by the government that underground tanks are reinforced, whether through liners or the process of plating tanks. Now, there are certain loopholes, of course. The EPA reports that tanks of 110 gallons or less are not subject to federal regulations. Nonetheless, it’ a good idea to reinforce all underground tanks, in order to ensure the integrity of the water itself and to prevent any loss of money.

What Types Of Tank Liners Are Available?

Water tank liners are not these pre-set products that cannot be altered. In fact, custom industrial tank liners are very much available, ensuring that tanks are reinforced as securely as possible, regardless of their shape, size, or material. Tank liners can be made of concrete, steel, and many other products; in the same sense, tanks can be made of steel, concrete, wood, and plastic. Plating tanks, as a process, is meant to essentially customize the tank and reinforce it against the specific elements to which it will be exposed. Even underground tanks can be affected by the surrounding weather, and reinforcing them will make it less of a problem.

Does Reinforcing Underground Water Tanks Have Other Benefits?

Those with smaller tanks may be hesitant to invest in adding liners to their underground water tanks. However, there are benefits to reinforcing tanks aside from keeping the water clean and secure. These tanks are not small investments, but they can easily be damaged by their surroundings. This will cause the owners to have to repair or even sometimes replace their tanks prematurely. By adding a lining product to their tanks, the owners will ensure that their tanks last longer and save money in the long term.

Ultimately, underground water tank liners are required for a reason. They keep people and water, itself a valuable resource, safe and secure. They offer the added benefits of ensuring that the water tanks themselves remain intact. Therefore, though they may be something of an investment they should be added to tanks that don’t require federal regulations as well. Furthermore, by investing in top quality liner products tank owners will ensure that they don’t need to worry about any issues down the road.