Back-up water storage tanks are often only considered when there is already a crisis, such as warnings of impending water restrictions, infrastructure damage caused by a flood, or notice of extended periods of water interruptions due to planned maintenance.

By Heiner Freese, director, SBS Tanks

Unfortunately, this can increase the likelihood of a disappointing outcome. When a quick fix is a priority, customers can be misled by unscrupulous fly-by-night salespeople, hungry contractors and price pressure. An unclear understanding of the water tank storage capacity requirements, the long-term business needs and the importance of a reputable manufacturer and supplier can make for installation headaches, water leaks and long-term regrets.

Ideally, the type of water storage tank, the water tank storage capacity and scope of work should be determined prior to an adverse event, when time allows for better assessment and planning. However, in reality, this is not always possible.

In order to determine the correct type and size of tank and what other equipment requirements, the following questions should be asked:

• What type of crisis do you want to safeguard against?
• How long can you operate without water?
• Is water a raw ingredient in manufacturing your product? Does that water need to undergo filtration, must it be processed, or can it be stored as rainwater?
• What amount of water do your staff need? Drinking water and water for ablution facilities is essential to remain compliant with health and safety requirements. Will you need to send everyone home if the water is interrupted for more than a few hours?
• What space is available for tank installation?
• Will you need pumps? In order to supply pressure and move water from the water storage tank across the building to where it is required in production, bathrooms or kitchens, a pump – or pumps will be required. The size of the pump will depend on the size of your operation and the water needs.
• Are you covered in the event of fire? A backup water tank to supply sprinklers inside your warehouse or production facility could save your business, especially if there is no municipal water supply for fire fighters to access in the event of a fire on your property. Depending on the size of your operation, this may be a legislative requirement, but did you know that you can maximise your storage capacity and turn your SBS Tanks fire water storage tank into a dual-purpose storage solution for backup water too?

Reason for water storage solution

How will the absence of water affect your business? Will production stop if the water is off for one hour? What about a day or a week?

When selecting a water storage tank there will obviously be a huge difference in the tank size and the system configuration if the crisis you anticipate is an outage for an hour or a week. Past experience may also impact your decision making. Was your business impacted by recent floods or drought conditions that resulted in no water for extended periods of over a month?

Consider the following:

• How much water does your business use in a day, a week or a month?
• What is the essential water needs in your factory, office or business? Does your business have heavy-duty cleaning, lubrication, heating or cooling processes that require water? Can rainwater or borehole water be used for this process and if yes, where could that be stored?
• Could a water stoppage cause damage to equipment and have a long-term effect on productivity even after the water is restored? This equipment needs to be prioritised when considering the backup water capacity of your water storage tanks and the solution installed.
• Are there any water intensive processes that can be shut off during the time of crisis? Identify operational elements that could be shut down short term with low level impact or low risk to business continuity. This could include washing processes such as for packing crates or vehicles.
• Do you have any alternative water sources? What length of time would this backup supply offer your business to continue operations? Water from a swimming pool on the property could be used to supply emergency water requirements but not as a long-term solution. A borehole, with water pumped into a water storage tank, could be a viable option to supply your business in the event of a water crisis.

Space

A level, compacted platform will be required for the installation of a water tank. The space needed will be dependent on the capacity of water to be stored. With limited space, a vertical solution can be implemented. SBS Tanks can be configure a water storage tank to fit limited site footprints of as little as 3 metres in diameter and maximise space availability by building up to almost 12 metres high. If the reverse is true, and vertical space is a challenge, for example in a parking garage or where a tank is required within a building structure, SBS is able to maximise the horizontal space available with current tank diameters of us to almost 24 metres in width and to the height restrictions.

Mult-purpose water storage

When considering the cost of the installation of a backup water storage tank for emergency usage, consider other potential uses that could result in cost savings for your business.

If your business has vast roof space, a long-term plan could include harvesting rainwater for use as a backup water supply solution.  With water scarcity becoming a global concern, the cost of water is set to continue to rise. Rainwater harvesting can reduce the cost of water to your business and can be used for irrigation or for a process such as washing vehicles to ensure a return on your investment. With the addition of a filtration plant, this water could also be used for drinking or potable water uses.

Look at water storage tank suppliers that offer the option for dual purpose storage. For example, a water storage solution that can be used for fire suppression water storage and backup water storage.

Product longevity, supplier reputation and guarantees

A sustainable backup water storage solution that has an excellent lifespan will ensure a better return on investment. At a minimum, the supplier should be compliant and certified for quality, health and safety standards, and should offer some form of warranty or after sales service support. Does the supplier have a good reputation, long-term experience and are they renowned for their backup service? Water storage tanks from SBS Tanks, no matter the size or storage capacity have an expected 65+ lifespan and carry a 10-year No-Leak Warranty.

Maintenance of the water storage tank should also be considered. Will the water storage tank require replacement after a few years? Will it deteriorate in the sun? Is there a risk of the water being contaminated by plastic degradation or by rust from making contact with the tank surface?  What about the risks of leaks? Water is costly, and even if it is harvested off your roof, you do not want it going to waste.

Look for a water storage tank that includes an internal liner, has been manufactured from quality steel with a protective alloy coating such as Zincalume® in an ISO 9001:2015 certified facility.

Partnerships and skills

Your tank supplier should have a large network of suppliers and skills, there is a lot more to consider than merely erecting a tank.

• • Engineering – SBS Tanks are engineered to the highest standards and can certainly design your system with our partners.
  • Pumps – we have a variety of reliable suppliers that will make excellent choices easy.
  • Electricity – Solar or at least a power point, consider SBS Solar and get off the electricity grid at the same time.
  • Plumbing – to be able to switch over when needed, SBS has many reliable partners in the plumbing business.
  • Telemetry and monitoring equipment – the last thing you want is for the back-up tank to be empty when you are in a crisis.
  • Security – if your premises are not secured already.

Much of the research that goes into the bespoke solution for your business or residence requires a great deal of time so you do not want to leave this to the last moment or once the crisis is in full swing as you will most likely make the wrong decision.

At SBS Tanks, we recognise that business owners, SHEQ teams and facilities managers need good advice from the get-go to make the best decision to secure operational continuity. While no one knows your business better than you, we have earned our reputation as the leading manufacturer of modular water storage tank with internal liners.