Underground Water Storage Tanks for Buried Installation

Underground Water Storage Tanks

Putting a water tank below ground solves several problems at once: the surface above stays available for parking, planting or traffic, the stored water stays cool and stable in temperature, and the tank is protected from weather, impact and vandalism. The trade-off is that a buried tank has to resist loads and forces that an above-ground tank never sees.

A buried tank carries the weight of the backfill and any surface loading above it, plus internal hydrostatic pressure from the water it holds. Where the water table rises, the empty tank also becomes buoyant: the buoyant force equals the weight of water the tank volume displaces, so a tank that is light in relation to its volume can float or distort when the ground is waterlogged.

This underground storage tank is therefore specified with a structural design matched to the burial depth and loading, and with an anti-flotation scheme – a concrete ballast slab, additional overburden, or ground anchors – sized against the highest expected groundwater level. Covers, access hatches and ventilation are provided so the tank can be inspected and cleaned safely.

• Engineered for backfill, surface and hydrostatic loads
• Anti-flotation design against high groundwater levels
• Frees up surface space for parking, planting or traffic
• Stable, cool stored water temperature below ground
• Lockable cast iron covers and internal access ladders
• Access opening positioned for cleaning and inspection

Applications

• Fire water reserves where surface space is limited
• Municipal and commercial water storage under roads and car parks
• Rainwater harvesting and stormwater attenuation
• Residential and hotel water storage where appearance matters
• Industrial sites requiring large buried storage volumes