Water tank installation tips

Buying a water tank is the first step, the second step is to ensure that the water tank is properly installed.  If in doubt, always refer back to the water tank manufacturer’s installation guidelines.

All water tanks need to be placed onto a firm and level surface that can withstand the downward force that a full water tank exerts.  Remember, a 10000 liter water tank exerts 10 tons of downward pressure (and 20000 litre water tanks exert 20 tons of downward pressure!).  So installation of water tanks should never be taken lightly, especially for water tanks of 5000 liters and upwards.

If the water tank is to be placed on a water tank stand, ensure that the tank stand is properly designed and certified to support the type and weight of the full tank that you have chosen.  We recommend steel tank stands that are designed and made by registered professional structural engineers – do not take a chance as safety is important (think of how much damage a full 10000 litre tank could cause if the tank stand tilted or collapsed).  It is also advisable to have the tank stand installed by an experienced builder as the legs of the tank stand must be placed in concrete according to certain specifications (25mPa cement should be used).

In many cases, water tanks need not be placed on water tank stands, especially if booster pumps will be used to supply the required water pressure (or perhaps no pressure is required and the water is simply collected from a tap on the water tank).  A concrete slab of sufficient thickness should be cast and it must be 100% level so that the weight of the water tank is evenly distributed.  There should also be no points where the water tank overlaps the platform or slab.  It is best to follow the water tank manufacturer’s recommendations for a suitably thick concrete slab.  15000 litre water tanks and 20000 litre water tanks need special attention to ensure the concrete tank base is strong enough.  Again, it is recommended that an experienced installer or builder be contracted to build a suitable tank base, especially for large tanks.

Incorrectly installed water tanks not only pose a threat to safety and integrity of surrounding structures but also void any manufacturer’s guaranty or warranty if the water tank cracks or leaks.

In South Africa we recommend JoJo Tanks products: JoJo supply water tank stands specifically designed and built by a registered structural engineer for 5000 litre vertical tanks and 10000 litre vertical tanks (heights of JoJo tank stands available: 1.5 metre, 3 metre, 4.5 metre, 6 metre and 9 metre).  JoJo vertical and horizontal water tanks also carry an 8-year warranty and are designed to withstand harsh African conditions.  Click on the links below to view the wide range of 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.