A water storage tank can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to construct, and, although it is initially expensive, it is — over the life of the structure — the most cost-effective means of keeping drinking water clean, safe and in adequate supply. The trouble is, local governments often are remiss in maintaining the tanks, thereby shortening the structures' lives and increasing ownership costs.

With regular evaluation and maintenance of water tanks, a city or county can ensure that its tanks are viable distribution components for a virtually limitless period of time. (In the United States, there are more than three dozen steel water tanks that have been in service more than 100 years.) Public personnel can inspect the tanks and perform some maintenance tasks with little or no extra cost to the local government. However, other tasks should be handled by specialized tank engineers and contractors.

Monitoring the foundation

Tank owners can and should evaluate their tanks on a regular basis. That process begins on the ground with the foundation, as deterioration of the foundation can lead to major problems elsewhere.

Diligence is key to inspecting a foundation. Utility personnel do not need special training, just a keen eye for detail to spot signs of settlement, cracking, spalling or exposed reinforcing steel. The presence of any of those factors signals the need for immediate repairs. Some repairs can be accomplished in house, while other, more severe, deterioration may require professional assistance.

Vegetation, which can trap moisture against concrete and steel, should be cleared from the base of the tank. Similarly, tree limbs and bushes should be trimmed from the tank shell to prevent scratches in the steel coating. (Scratches are not only unsightly but precursors to premature coating failure and corrosion.)

In addition to examining the foundation and the surrounding area, utility personnel should survey the site for signs of unauthorized access or vandalism. Unauthorized access is a potential liability for the tank owner, and a possible threat to water system security and the tank itself. Manholes and access doors to the tank interior should be checked frequently to ensure that they are secure.

Examining the tank

Assessment of the foundation and tank site should be followed by examination of the tank itself. Inspectors typically look for signs of corrosion and leaking, and they assess the condition of connections and screens.

Under adverse conditions, such as those involving prolonged, unchecked exposure to moisture, the bottom plate projecting from a tank (called the chime or chine) can corrode. If not prevented or arrested, the corrosion can worsen and eventually cause leaking in the chime and/or the corner weld.

Leaks may not be readily visible but instead may be detected through the presence of rust streaks. If a leak is discovered, a professional structural engineer familiar with water tank maintenance should inspect the tank as quickly as possible.

In addition to monitoring the tank for corrosion and leaking, inspectors need to examine the condition of sanitary items such as the overflow discharge screening and vent screening. They must be sure that the screens are clear of debris and free of holes or gaps. Vent screens also are present on the tank roof, and, if staff members are trained in accessing heights and are equipped with the proper safety gear, they can be dispatched to monitor their condition. (Worker training — whether for accessing heights or for confined-space entry — is available from a variety of sources, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, www.osha.gov.)

If the tank is equipped with a vacuum/pressure-relief style of vent, the proper positioning and operation of the pallets before and after freezing weather should be checked. (Rapid discharge of water from the tank could result in roof or structure damage if the vent is clogged or frosted over.)

Finally, as part of owner-performed maintenance, utilities must ensure that potable water stored in the tank is not connected with water in the storm or sanitary sewer. Most state health departments require that overflow pipes have a visible air break above grade. If an overflow pipe discharge end is allowed to come in contact with stormwater or water ponded in a catch basin, a siphon action can pull the unsanitary water into the tank and contaminate the potable water stored in it.

Regular tank evaluations help ensure early detection of needed repairs, and they can save the tank owner a significant amount of money. For example, in one community, the tank owner detected eroded soil at the base of the community's ground storage tank, which signaled a possible leak. The leak was confirmed by a tank engineering specialist and repaired fairly simply. Left unchecked, it would have caused further erosion and eventually might have caused the tank to shift. Monitoring and early response to a leak saved the local government thousands of dollars in repairs.