What to buy: a plastic water tank or steel water tank?

When a water tank is required, whether it be for a rainwater harvesting system or for storing water from other sources, many buyers will need to decide whether it should be a plastic/polyethylene water tank or a steel water tank.

Polyethylene water tanks vs steel water tanks?

Before any advantages/disadvantages of plastic water tanks and steel water tanks are discussed, there must be level playing fields: a cheap, inferior poly water tank will probably always be a poor choice when compared with even an average steel water tank.  Whichever water tank is decided upon, make sure it is from a reputable company and has some kind of buyer’s guaranty or warranty.

Steel water tanks are available either as coated, mild steel tanks (usually galvanised) or as stainless steel tanks.  A good quality stainless steel tank is a good investment but disadvantages are: high cost, limited choice in size and type, and their weight makes transport and installation potentially more difficult when compared to poly tanks.  Galvanised steel tanks are lower in cost compared to stainless steel tanks but are usually still more expensive than even the best of poly tanks.  Galvanised steel water tanks are also not generally available in a huge array of sizes and shapes and suffer from the same transportation and installation issues as stainless steel water tanks.  Another less important disadvantage of steel water tanks is that they are usually only available in one colour, i.e. silver (or light grey).

Polyethylene water tanks, even the best quality brands (such as JoJo Tanks in South Africa) are usually still less expensive than average galvanised steel water tanks.  Poly water tanks that are made using rotational moulding (as are JoJo vertical and horizontal water tanks) do not have seams and are thus less likely to split or crack (all steel water tanks have welded or melded seams that potentially can leak).  Poly water tanks do not rust or corrode and are generally inert (even so-called ‘stainless’ steel tanks can corrode, depending on the minerals and chemicals in the stored water).  Plastic water tanks are also available in a wide range of sizes, types, shapes and colours making them potentially a better choice for specific water (and chemical) storage requirements .  JoJo water tanks are available in vertical or horizontal format, from 260 litres up to 20000 litres, with the 5000 litre water tanks and 10000 litre water tanks being the most popular.  JoJo poly water tanks are also available in 8 different main colours as well as a few other colours, depending on type of water tank.

From the above, it should be realised that good quality, roto-moulded plastic or poly water tanks are probably the best choice compared to steel water tanks.  JoJo water tanks are made with a black inner lining that inhibits algae growth and are sold with an 8-year warranty.  Click on the links below to see the wide range of JoJo water tanks, JoJo rainwater tanks, JoJo septic tanks, JoJo silo tanks, JoJo underground tanks, JoJo steel tank stands and other high quality JoJo Tanks products available in South Africa.

JoJo Tanks South Africa offer a wide range of products such as plastic water tanks and chemical tanks to suit every household, business or agricultural need, including silo tanks and silo tank stands as well as other high quality JoJo Tanks products.  See JoJo Tanks’ VERTICAL TANKS, HORIZONTAL TANKS (transporter tanks), STEEL TANK STANDS and OTHER JOJO PRODUCTS and see JoJo Tanks’ NEW 6000 LITRE UNDERGROUND TANKS. Also see our FAQ and WATER TANK PRICES.