When choosing an optimal water storage tank for a community's potable water needs, there are two options - ground tanks or elevated tanks.

As they are very different in how they supply water to a community, water tank engineering services will educate municipal project developers on the difference between the two and which ones are suitable in different locations.

Water storage tank engineers find that making the right choice for any community involves more about where the vessel will be located and other details than it does about its type.

How Do These Different Water Storage Tanks Function?

The first thing to understand about ground versus elevated water storage tanks is that they function differently.

Though both vessel types are equipped with pumps, water tank engineers design elevated tanks with pumps that mainly assist with refilling, while ground tanks generally utilize larger pumps for both refilling and delivering their contents to the community.

Elevated bowls and standpipes function using gravity feed, which requires minimal pumping, while most ground-level units require direct pumping to serve their contents.

What Are Supply Demand and Pressure Requirements?

Based on this factor about gravity-fed and pump-fed vessels, one of the details that engineering companies specializing in water storage tanks research when making recommendations is the water supply demand on each vessel from the community it is serving.

The demand for water at peak flow hours dictates whether gravity-fed elevated and standpipe tanks can maintain enough pressure to keep the community supplied or if pumping is required.

When pumping is required, either type of water storage tank could suffice.

If enough pressure to supply a community can be maintained with gravity feed only, elevated and standpipe units which require less ground space can be installed.

In communities where larger water stores are required, larger and pumped ground tanks may be the best option.

Where Will The Tank Be Installed?

Another consideration that water storage tank engineers make when advising on tank installation is the location.

Ground units, which can be installed underground, above ground, or partly underground, may require a larger facility space, as they are frequently built larger than elevated vessels so they can hold more water.

Elevated and standpipes can be erected on smaller plots.

Conversely, they are harder to disguise as opposed to ground tanks, which can be easily hidden from view.

What Is The Ground Elevation?

Ground elevation is another critical factor that water storage tank engineers consider when choosing the right tank for an application, as elevation can improve the function of both designs.

Ground tanks installed at a higher elevation and serving communities at lower elevations can function almost as efficiently as gravity-fed elevated and standpipe versions when the space is available.

Alternately, elevated and standpipe tanks can be more efficient and require less pumping in low elevation locations where there is no option to physically locate the vessel at a higher elevation.

Water Storage Tank Choice Is Dependent On Many Things

While it might be easy to ask the question of which type of vessel a water storage tank engineer recommends for a specific community, it is impossible to choose one without a great deal of information.

Essentially, there is no better tank overall, just better for a specific installation.

Water storage tank companies must assess the installation location, community size, elevation, and many other factors to make a highly useful recommendation.

Only then can any community end up with a water tank that will efficiently provide it with enough water, at the right pressure, to keep the public well served.