Concrete Water Tanks: Pros and Cons

When it comes to concrete water tanks, you may be impressed by their low cost, but with anything that requires this commitment of time and money, you should carefully consider the pros and cons of such an system. We wholeheartedly support the use of water storage tanks in every household, but there are some specific reasons why we don’t sell concrete water tanks here at FreeWater Systems.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with concrete water tanks, but we thought it might be best to provide you with an unbiased look at these tanks, including their advantages and disadvantages.  So, without further delay, let’s examine these concrete water tanks.

The Pros and Cons of a Concrete Tank

When we think of a water tank, we instantly recall all of the benefits and uses for such a device. The underground options especially offer an almost unnoticeable solution that constantly provides the homeowner with a source of clean water that they can use for everyday activities and even for drinking.

Water tanks come in various materials, and concrete is very popular but like all things, You get what you pay for.

Let’s examine the pros and cons of  concrete water tanks:

1. PRO: This is the least expensive option because the material is readily available. In addition, being locally made cuts costs on shipping.
2. PRO: These types of water storage tanks won’t require any gravel-packing during their installation.  This removes a step from the process when burying the tank underground.
3. PRO: Concrete tanks are readily available. Most manufacturers have piles of them ready at any time. When one is needed, it can usually ready to be picked up immediately.
4. CON: These tanks are incredibly heavy. To transport and install them, you  need  specialized equipment capable of  handling that extreme weight.
5. CON: Since they are usually mass produced and made locally, quality control issues commonly arise. Most of the time these are manufactured to be septic tanks. Concrete is porous so it tends to leak more easily. Septic tanks can leak without issue, but potable water tanks must not be susceptible to leakage or groundwater contamination.
6. CON: The expected lifespan of a concrete tank is only 15 years before it will need to be replaced or “lined”
7. CON: It is impossible to reliably repair one of these tanks. As they start to deteriorate and leak, the process spreads too rapidly to simply plug the leak and move on. In addition, in order to make them suitable for potable water, the liner must be replaced every few years which is quite expensive.
8. CON: These tanks aren’t compatible with accessories that increase efficiency. Low-level float valves, clarifiers, submersible pumps, and more are very difficult to attach to concrete tanks.
9. CON: Manway accesses are usually also made of concrete, which makes them very heavy and makes access difficult.

The Patented OcTank Solution

As you can see, concrete tanks one positive aspect, in that they are less expensive. The upfront cost is less than other tanks, but the short lifespan and constant need for liners and repairs will quickly eliminate the initial savings. Here at FreeWater Systems, we utilize our patented , modular polyethylene system.

Our tanks have an estimated lifespan of 50 plus years, FreeWater Systems has been providing people across the United States and the Caribbean with our line of quality, reliable, and durable water storage tanks since 1994.

In addition to water storage tanks, we also offer many accessories to further improve and enhance your water capture and storage systems. When we ship you our system, it includes all of the necessary hardware. This allows our customers to utilize a turnkey solution that doesn’t require them to go out and buy additional hardware or accessories before our storage system can be completed.

We don’t wish to completely discount concrete water tanks, we simply want you, the customer, to understand the difference between those options and our own. We believe that the lower cost and decreased reliability of a concrete tank isn’t worth the savings in the long-term. If you would like to know more about our options, you can request a free no-obligation quote through our website. As always, if you have any questions or you would like to know more about this subject, we would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!