Water Tank Problems
Water Tank Problems
(OP)
I have an above ground, steel, 500,000 gallon water tank (60' diameter x 24 ' high) that provides water for fire suppression, construction and potable water. The tank bears on a ring foundation system. The base plate of the tank is 1/4 steel (A36) that rests on a 4" layer of clean sand which in turn rests on compacted native material (ranges from clayey sand to sandy clay). The tank recently presented with a leak from a 3/4 inch pressure sensing line. The leak is under the tanks footprint. Water is daylighting on the exterior of the tank foundation wall . This seems a bit odd to me. (It would seem to indicate some pressure head on the water under the tank). Another concern is voids under the steel base plate left after the water washes out the clean sand that supports the base plate. Has anybody seen issues like this before. How do you verify the bearing material under the base plate? Why would the water be daylighting on the exterior of the foundation system? What else should I be worried about?





RE: Water Tank Problems
Don't understand why you have a 3/4" line under the tank. The small line would seem to be a potential source of problems.
Leaks from steel tank structures begin at a slow rate and the volume of the leak tends to increase slowly. Contrast that to an instantaneous catastrophic leak that occurs with a plastic tank.
The slow leakage rate should allow you time to procure repair services.
RE: Water Tank Problems
RE: Water Tank Problems