Water storage tanks - above ground or below?

[Denim]

The reason the builders push the underground water tanks is because they save space, thus the developer is able to put more houses in a smaller space

Always question anything that a Thai builder tells you , especially if it concerns water, most of them still can't grasp the concept that water flows down hill

For those who are promoting underground tanks, how do you clean them ? Or do you really think that Thai water is so crystal clear that the tanks never need cleaning !

In the case of Land and Home , the issue of space was not an issue at all. Besides , an above ground storage tank is typically only about a meter wide so putting it underground would save no space since the tanks are underground at the side of the property, not under the house.

There is sediment in the tap water here and in water collected in rainwater cement tanks. Naturally , it sinks to the bottom which is why the tap is about a foot or more above the ground level. As for cleaning a tank, as already mentioned ( with picture ) some of the cheaper overground tanks allow light in and algae can form which will make cleaning necessary unless the tank is sheltered from light or is of superior quality. Underground tanks don't have this problem.

As already stated , it is not about who is right or wrong or which is best it is about making a choice according to your situation based on available facts. Both alternatives have their merits and downsides. Just reading this thread has given me new thoughts on the subject.

[lopburi3]

The normal SS above ground tank has a drain in center of bottom which makes it a snap to keep clean - either reomve cap or open drain tap and swirl hose from above - the bottom slants to center making it even easier. Water is not clean - even here in Bangkok - and there will be sedimete collecting over time - not dirty enough to justify a pre-filter - but enough to make cleaning occasionally a good idea.

[cheeryble]

I think i'll use a couple of these:

I like the looks much better than modern, and maybe could paint them up somehow.

They are MUCH cheaper which may be partly offset by delivery and erection.

I can buy two as below from a friend for 1000 each just to clear the yard, but trying to get the number of the supply company as they will be used to handling them for delivery and mounting (400kg each) so better buy fresh.

If anyone knows of a manufacturer vaguely near Chiangrai i'd be grateful for the info.

On a scientific note I wonder how these can cool the water, because they are concrete which is pretty much water proof.

Maybe a bit of moisture seeping through's enough?

BTW to the OP:

There's a very good reason to have the tanks above ground....even if not high enough for pressure and need a pressure pump. If the electricity fails you want them high enough so water will at least run slowly out of the taps.

Edited January 21, 2015 by cheeryble

[davidkas]

A question to all in this post. Where can you buy large 10000 plus water tanks for collecting rain water. Either above or below ground. Common in Australia but I get odd looks when I say I want large water tanks.

There is no gov water close to where I am building my house and I don't want to use pond water unless I have to. I want enough stored rain water to get through the dry season where I am, 2-3 months. Any sensible answers welcome.

[KhunBENQ]

Usually there is no single 10'000 l tank, but simply x-tanks in a row.

Biggest tanks that I have seen in our area are 5'000 l.

There seem to be companies that build huge tanks.

Like this one:

http://www.arunservice.com/store/index.php/product/view/%E0%B8%96%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B3_%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B5.%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B5.%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%9F%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%AA_%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B8%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%99_BIG_TANK_%E0%B8%82%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%94_5000_50000_%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%A3-11895333-th.html?ps=3

But as one needs a big truck to transport, the quesion would be: in which area do live?

Edited February 20, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[inzman]

Underground for sure. Water temp stays constant. If you ever do have a leak, you can always replace the tank above ground. But in 10 years here, I never heard of a tank leaking.

[kamalabob2]

You can have any size water tank built in the North East. The weight of a single tank is a real issue to deal with., The cost per liter, of storage is lowest at 2000 liters with platic tanks.

[davidkas]

Usually there is no single 10'000 l tank, but simply x-tanks in a row.

Biggest tanks that I have seen in our area are 5'000 l.

There seem to be companies that build huge tanks.

Like this one:

http://www.arunservice.com/store/index.php/product/view/%E0%B8%96%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B3_%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B5.%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B5.%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%9F%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%AA_%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B8%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%99_BIG_TANK_%E0%B8%82%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%94_5000_50000_%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%A3-11895333-th.html?ps=3

But as one needs a big truck to transport, the quesion would be: in which area do live?

Many thanks for link, I have emailed them, wait and see what comes back and the difference between Thai and Farang price.

I googled extensively but never found a company like this one. Again thanks

[KhunBENQ]

You can have any size water tank built in the North East.

I forgot about that and had only plastic/ready fabricated tanks in mind.

Yes you can have a tank built on site (concrete).

Edited February 21, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[cheeryble]

I have previously asked about the old fashioned ong which are actually made of concrete.

I like them aesthetically.

I knew the price is cheap but expected to pay a lot to get them delivered a long way and extra because they are 400 kilos empty weight.

Wife just sourced a maker on the Payao road who will make what i hear is 1900 litres same as in the photo below....in fact he may have made it years ago.

It's about six foot tall without the base.

He will deliver them north of Chiangrai for 1400 baht.

This to me is remarkable considering the weight.

I have a rai of hilltop on which I want to have a bit of garden and enough water for say four occasional residents.

If the pump breaks down etc need some spare capacity.

Is one enough?

Are two enough?

Edited February 21, 2015 by cheeryble

[KhunBENQ]

We are a household of three adults and one child.

We need about 12'000 liters per month (incl. watering a small "herb garden").

Not used for drinking or cooking.

This is surely a low consumption as you do not tend to waste water upcountry.

So 1900 liters would last about 4 days.

[cheeryble]

We are a household of three adults and one child.

We need about 12'000 liters per month (incl. watering a small "herb garden").

Not used for drinking or cooking.

This is surely a low consumption as you do not tend to waste water upcountry.

So 1900 liters would last about 4 days.

THanks Benq

I think my own answer is I may as well install two.

(This itself may bring complications as they have to get it up a steep track still that's their business if I have to pay two trips it won't break the bank. Not sure if one will fit in a large pickup.)

On thinking it is a garden which is going to be really using the water.

I would like to at least grow some stuff, and a little area of grass always looks nice.

(There's about a quarter rai of pineapple growing but I think that isn't watered just runs on rainfall?)

As we won't be there all the time, far from it, I was thinking of running the black irrigation hose with droppers or sprays with a timer.

How big's your "herb garden"?

ps:

Someone previously said about putting stones around the well rings or the water will be muddy.

Mine doesn't have any.

Can I put some small filter....gravel or sand.....near the cabin?

Or as the rings need to go deeper would it be an impossible task to get the rings taken out, dig well deeper, then re-ring with gravel outside?

Would it then be filter-free, no need?

Edited February 22, 2015 by cheeryble

[cheeryble]

OK I want to order the old fashioned water tanks I discussed.

Thinking two.

We find they are not exactly like post number 40 but more rotund.....but no choice so what the hell.

They are apparently 1.5m high.

So what I want to know before we order them made is I've noticed they usually have holes pre made with a blue plastic fitting in each I think.

Is there only one configuration for the holes, or is there a choice we can make before we order which would work better for us.

Reminder:

We are going to pump water 100 feet up from our own well (which needs digging deeper soon as poss) to a small hilltop and need it to be stored there ready for use for washing, the kitchen, and for the garden.

Would we just join the tanks making them effectively one or would it be an advantage to filter in one?

(Must look up the configuration Crossy kindly made some moons ago but don't think it went into that much detail)

ps notice there are no holes in the tanks in the pic. Guess they add them afterwards? Kinda surprised. Maybe if you don't ask they send with no holes?

Edited March 4, 2015 by cheeryble

[cheeryble]

Still hoping for an answer to the previous post :-)

[MJCM]

We have the same Tanks (we use them for storing drinking water) and ours came with one hole near the bottom where we have attached a Tap. This IMHO is standard.

Edit: if you want more holes you should ask the guys who make them (I once asked and they said no problem) but we use the plastic ones for storage and these ones for drinking water.

Edited March 6, 2015 by MJCM

[cheeryble]

Thanks MJCM

Pretty sure I've seen them with a hole pretty high up too.

Maybe it's just a neater way than dangling an inlet pipe into the lid at the top.

Having said that if the top fitting is on a vertical bit of the tank it's going to be some way down perhaps a quarter so the tanks wouldn't fill.

The tanks will not be on a tower only slightly raised......so I'm also thinking that a pump to give water pressure would be best served by an adequate outlet fitting at the bottom. Is 1 inch normally used?

Any comments still welcome!

Edited March 7, 2015 by cheeryble

[cheeryble]

I want to order the old fashioned tanks am told the lower fitting size is normally "si hoon" which i now learn is 1/2 inch pipe.

Half in pipe of course is a bit bigger than a half inch (never could figure out the ridiculous system) but it still seems a bit small for a pump to domestic pressure pump to suck through.

Thoughts?

[jcisco]

I bought two 2000 liter Diamond Brand Green tree Sand Stone Series water tanks for clean water to use inside a two story home. They are at ground level in a "pump room" attached to a carport. I also had installed a 500 liter Hydroline Bladder Expansion Diaphragm Tank. When the electricity goes out, we still have water pressure inside both floors of our home. No leaks in those two 2000 liter plastic water tanks and it would seem they could be cleaned if I wanted. Now under the ground tanks are a different beast. I watched as two large 30,000 liter clean water tanks were installed last year in Buriram behind the Taweekit Shopping Center. They also have a serious booster pump to pull that water from the underground tanks to inside the new part of that shopping center. If you are in Buriram, you can be sure they do not plan to pull up those two tanks as they placed concrete over the top. Also in Buriram above ground, at surface level water tanks on normal concrete pads, water pumps, bladder expansion diaphragm tanks are in use at i-Mobile Stadium. They hid the various water tanks behind bushes and they do not seem unsightly in any manner to me. If the OP has hired a house builder who would come back to deal with water tank issues, years after that house is built he has hired a rare breed of house builder. In my experience and observation getting a typical house builder in Buriram to come back and solve roof leak issues is a great accomplishment the first year and nearly impossible after 12 months. The house builder who built the home I live in was wise to make water pumps, water tanks, a/c, kitchen counters NOT part of the contract and I used sub contractors who were far better trained in their specific fields. Those sub contractors, hired directly were responsive to "after the sales" service issues. The house builder "lost interest" after one year in any service issues.

interesting how the outer wall is not buttressed, I assume they will back fill around the tanks with soil.

I guess they wall isn't particularly deep or tall so if all goes well if does start to move it will all go together rather than beginning to distort the tank.

Also re: 1/2 inch is bigger than that, i believe that the ID is 1/2 inch the OD is irrelevant. 1/2 superheated steam pipe can be 6 inches thick for example due to the pressure and of course heat stresses.

Edited March 9, 2015 by jcisco

[Sophon]

The inside diameter of our ½ inch water pipe is around 17 mm.

Sophon

[cheeryble]

The inside diameter of our ½ inch water pipe is around 17 mm.

Sophon

Exactly....I can't quite imagine the rationale.

Still seems a bt small to me.........I guess I'm just going to have to go find a booster pump and check out the ID of the inlet.

(unless any kind person knows all about this :-))