Water Storage Tanks details
Water storage for dry-weather resilience
Stored water can protect suitable irrigation, cleaning and operational uses from short interruptions or periods of high demand. The benefit depends on having a reliable way to refill the tank and a realistic understanding of how quickly the stored volume will be consumed.
AFS plans storage as a working system: source, inlet, usable volume, overflow, water quality, outlet, pump, controls and maintenance access. This prevents a large tank being specified without the catchment, refill rate or pumping equipment needed to make it useful.
Rainwater storage tanks
A rainwater tank receives runoff from a suitable roof or hard surface after debris is removed. The design may include pre-tank filtration, a calming inlet, screened overflow, level monitoring, pump equipment and a mains backup arrangement where appropriate.
The storage volume should balance catchment, rainfall and demand. If the tank also contributes to a surface-water drainage strategy, the drainage designer may need to distinguish between the volume normally occupied by harvested water and any separately controlled attenuation volume.
Above-ground water tanks
Above-ground tanks can simplify inspection and avoid excavation, but they require adequate space, a suitable supporting base, protection from impact and weather, secure fittings and a practical pipe route. Appearance, height, access and planning constraints may also influence the choice.
Tanks can be linked where the manufacturer and hydraulic arrangement allow, but connections, isolation, balance, overflow capacity and cleaning access must be considered rather than adding vessels without a system design.
Underground water tanks
Underground storage can preserve usable surface space and suit larger rainwater systems. The installation must follow the selected tank manufacturer's requirements for excavation, bedding, backfill, groundwater, loading and access covers.
Site-specific risks include groundwater, poor ground, nearby structures and services, vehicle loading and restricted access for excavation or lifting. These factors are reviewed before the installation method is agreed.
Commercial, estate and irrigation storage
Commercial and estate systems can support landscape irrigation, wash-down, grounds maintenance and other suitable non-potable requirements. Useful project information includes the required daily volume, peak flow, refill source and rate, operating hours, available electrical supply, site drawings and the consequences of running out of stored water.
Where the water is important to operations, the system may include duty and standby pumps, level alarms, remote monitoring, automatic refill controls or a defined contingency connection.
Pumps, level controls and delivery pressure
Gravity supply is not possible on every site. Pump selection depends on required flow and pressure, pipe length, elevation, outlet type, operating pattern and the tank arrangement. Level protection should prevent pumps running dry and can provide early warning when stored volume is low.
Existing sites can also be assessed for additional capacity, a replacement tank, pump upgrades or improved controls. For a pump fault rather than a storage project, use our rainwater harvesting pump repair and servicing service.
Non-potable and potable water storage
Rainwater and other non-potable supplies must not be mistaken for drinking water or cross-connected to the mains supply. Dedicated outlets, pipework identification and an appropriately protected backup arrangement form part of a safe design.
Potable water storage has different material, hygiene, access, temperature and maintenance requirements. Tell us at the outset if the proposed use involves drinking water, food production or another hygiene-sensitive application so the correct scope and specialist requirements can be established.
Request a water-storage survey
AFS supports water-storage projects within about 50 miles of Alton; for sites more than 40 miles away we will confirm whether we can attend. Send the site postcode, intended water use, estimated demand and photographs, or call 01420 561661.
