Concrete Vs. Plastic: How to Decide Which Material Is Ideal for a Water Storage Tank

Catching rainwater and holding it in a storage tank can help during a drought season, and can also reduce your utility costs. You can use that water for filling the toilet tank and watering your lawn, and not have to pay as much for water supplied by your city. Before you buy a water storage tank for your property, note a few considerations about each type of tank and the two most popular materials that you'll want to consider carefully.

1. Concrete

A benefit of having a poured concrete water storage tank is that you can shape and form it in any way you see fit. If you want a large tank but your property has trees with deep roots or other features that might get in the way, you can shape the concrete around those tree roots and anything else. It can also be as deep as is safe for your property as well. Concrete is also very environmentally friendly, as it's easy to harvest the materials used to make concrete, and it can be recycled easily if you ever decide to remove it.

One downside of poured concrete is that it's relatively permanent. If you ever decide to move, you cannot take the tank with you. If you decide to renovate your home in a way that changes the footprint, you may need to fill in the concrete tank and then have another one poured in another area of your property.

2. Plastic

Plastic water storage tanks have the advantage of being lightweight and portable. You can take it with you when you move, and because they're so lightweight, you can easily secure a small tank next to your home or install it underground yourself. Because they're made of one molded piece, you don't need to worry about any connectors breaking down, and you typically don't need to worry about plastic leaking water over time.

The downside of plastic tanks is that they are available in certain shapes and sizes; they may be very expensive if you want something custom-made to fit your property. Some types of plastic may react and break down in direct sunlight, so you may want to put yours underground or may need to keep it on a particular side of your property so that it's shaded. Recycling plastic also means fumes and emissions from the recycling process, so this is a consideration for those who are looking for an eco-conscious choice.

Learn more about these options and get a second opinion by contacting companies like Williams & Jackson.

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