Water And Wastewater Storage Tanks: Pay Attention To The Coating

By Mark Eklund, P.E., Materials Specialist, CST Storage 

Today’s water and wastewater storage tanks are built for durability. However, a tank’s durability and total lifecycle often are dependent on the influence of its primary adversary: corrosion. The one thing standing between a storage tank and damaging corrosion is the tank’s most valuable feature: its coating.

A storage tank’s coating impacts several of its other features, particularly cost, total life cycle, ease of construction, and maintenance requirements. Many companies utilize technologically advanced coatings of glass or epoxy. But not all coatings are equal. The type of coating as well as the application process are what separate the quality of one water and wastewater storage tank (and one manufacturer) from another.

A tank’s coating is the only defense it offers to corrosion. Because unwanted corrosion on the tank wall could contaminate your liquid – and vice versa – it is important to select a coating with proven field performance. Depending on the tank’s design, the coating application process will take place at the factory or in the field. Not only the coating itself, but the application process whether inside a factory or in the field, will greatly impact the durability and longevity of the coating and the overall performance of the tank. Here’s how the coating process works.