An important factor in corrosion engineering and the maintenance of expensive water storage tanks s the protective coatings applied to these tanks throughout their service lives.

Tank production starts with the application of an appropriate coating but continuing the protective process with water storage tank maintenance and the application of new coatings is equally essential.

To understand the importance of this step in water tank maintenance, tank owners should know some details about these coatings and how they protect different vessels.

Different Tank - Different Age-Related Risks

Of the three most popular materials used in the construction of water storage tanks, corrosion engineers find that each material individually suffers from different types of slow deterioration.

In all cases, a prime element in water storage tank maintenance is building the tank with a coating of an appropriate surface protectant, then continuing to reapply that coating throughout the life of the vessel.

• Steel tanks and other metal vessels will corrode over time if not well protected with a water barrier coating.
• Fiberglass will lose its integrity due to UV damage from natural sunlight.
• Concrete loses its stability over time from repeated wet/dry and freeze/thaw cycles.

In all cases, these destructive changes can be slowed or eliminated by keeping the surface of the container sealed off from the elements that can damage them.

Why Are Surface Coatings Vital In Water Tank Maintenance?

Whether applied to the interior of a tank, the exterior, or both, protective surface coatings are an essential part of water tank maintenance for every tank used for storing potable water.

In all cases, the goal is to seal the surfaces of the vessel to prevent corrosive agents from causing that deterioration.

Corrosion engineers find that the best time to do this is when the vessel is brand new, before it is put into service.

Beyond that, regular water storage tank maintenance to evaluate the thickness and integrity of protective coatings is necessary, with re-applications done as needed to maintain the protective properties of the coating.

Depending on the tank material and specific surface coating used, protective applications not only seal off the tank material from its contents or the elements outside but also reduce chemical reactions due to mineral buildup and water pH, prevent contamination, and reduce chlorine loss in treated water.

Protective coatings are also the first step in water tank maintenance that acts to maintain the structural integrity of the vessel as well.

Reduce Water Tank Maintenance With Correct Coating Applications

The most critical factor pertaining to this part of water storage tank maintenance is using the correct procedure, as a surface coating that is improperly applied and cannot adhere will be unable to provide that protection.

Knowing this, corrosion engineering focused on the development of protective surface coatings dictates a specific technique to be used for each application, starting with the proper preparation of the tank surface.

Proper Water Tank Maintenance Leads To Long Service Life

Regardless of what material a municipal water storage tank is constructed from, it will suffer from deterioration or corrosion over time, as all things do.

The key to slowing down the aging process on these very expensive vessels is the correct application of protective coatings during construction, then essential water tank maintenance including testing, and re-application of protective coatings as needed.

Since this is such a critical aspect during the lifetime of every water storage vessel, tank owners should partner with a qualified water tank specialist to help them with maintenance planning and execution.

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