Getting 100 Years Out Of Your Storage Tank

Of all the complicated processes that go into water treatment, tank maintenance should not be one.

The concept behind storage tank efficiency and longevity couldn’t be more straightforward: Take care of your tanks and they will take care of you.

“A well-maintained tank, let’s say that it is a steel tank and you do regular inspections every three to five years, those can last up to 100 years,” says Lourdes Borrego-O’Brien, Manager of Tank Industry Consultants' El Paso Office. “There are cursory things you can do [to maintain tanks]. You don’t have to be an expert.”

Borrego-O’Brien shared several pro-tips for tank upkeep during her Water Online Radio interview at ACE.15. She recommends routine weekly checks for cracks in the foundation, deterioration and corrosion. She endorsed the AWWA recommendation of tank inspections every three to five years.

“Have a lot of details on your tanks if possible.” she says. “Keeping good records is important and knowing the last time that it was inspected, what condition it was in, when it was last rehabbed or not. Those are some of the most important things.”

One of Borrego-O’Brien’s final pleas was on behalf of quality coating. If the coat is done right, she says, the tank won’t need another for over 20 years.

To hear more of Borrego-O’Brien’s tips for best tank maintenance, tune in below.