Storage is an important part of many industries, especially those that deal with liquids. Materials such as pharmaceutical chemicals, cow milk, potable water, gasoline, and others need to be stored safely in tanks, and a tank needs more than metal walls to keep the contents inside. Having potable water tank lining is essential for water storage, and chemical storage may be even trickier. Fortunately, a wide variety of liner products and custom liners can be purchased wholesale and fitted into a storage tank, so the liquids inside maintain their integrity and won’t leak out. When it comes to water tank liners and plating tanks, how can the owner prevent leak, and what regulations should they bear in mind when it comes to safe storage?
Tank Storage Basics
A storage tank must comply with a variety of EPA standards, especially if that tank is storing hazardous materials such as pesticides or gasoline. In particular, many of these rules apply to tanks that are stored partially or totally underground, since they can potentially leak straight into the soil and damage the local environment. The EPA keeps a list of 140 different chemicals that, when stored in sufficient quantities, require their owners to present a risk management plan to federal regulation agents. It may also be noted that small tanks, those with storage space of 110 gallons or under, are not actually subject to any federal regulations. Many tanks are larger than that, though, and must be handled correctly. What defines an underground tank, anyway? Such a tank, according to the EPA, is an underground storage tank (UST) if its body or connected piping have at least 10% of the total volume underground. This applies to a whole system of connected tanks, too. Often, these tanks are made of steel, and steel has been used to store and transport water for over 150 years. Now, how to prevent leaks? This is where potable water tank lining and double layered tanks come in.
Water Tank Storage Methods
When it comes to water storage, the priority is not only to keep the contents from leaking, but to protect the integrity of those contents. Potable water must be safe for human consumption, and thus, a bare metal tank will not suffice, since rust and particles can get into the water and compromise it. So, potable water tank lining is added, and such lining can be bought from a variety of wholesale sellers in a variety of sizes to fit tanks small and large. Old tank linings can be inspected when professionals are hired to visit, and they can repair any steel or concrete surfaces that are cracked, corroded, or otherwise faulty. As for the potable water tank lining, this often takes the form of an epoxy, that will be sprayed on the tank’s dry interior lining and allowed to dry. Such lining keeps the water clean and also prevents moisture from escaping via exfiltration. Liners can also be made of harder materials that are fitted inside the tank like an interior rain coat, and such linings must be checked regularly for rips or other faults. Ideally, any potable water tank lining will be able to adjust to the tank’s expansion, contraction, or warping due to changes in temperature or sunlight exposure on the outside as well.
Other Tank Storage Methods
When it comes to storing liquids in tanks, the owners must be prepared for the possibility of a leak, especially if they are storing hazardous liquids. To this end, an above-ground tank should be stored at the bottom of a depressed area, so any leaked material pools around the tank and won’t flow away. In addition, this area should be made of flawless concrete, so there are no leaks and the material can’t seep into anything. In addition, it is a common practice for these storage tanks to have tow layers, or shells. The inner layer hold the material, and anything that leaks will seep into the space between the tank’s two layers rather than get into open air. In short, the outer tank shell is the emergency shell, and the tank’s owners should regularly check to see if anything leaked into that space. Warning signs should also be placed around that tank, for safety’s sake.