What is a Water Storage Tank and How Does It Work?

A water storage tank holds clean water from your reverse osmosis system or other filter systems until you're ready to use it. Pressurized storage tanks force water out on demand, while atmospheric tanks require a booster pump to supply pressure. Water storage tanks exist in a vast array of sizes, designs, and specifications, and can be used residentially, commercially, and for large-scale industrial or municipal enterprises.

What is a water storage tank?

A water storage tank collects water and stores it for later use and timely access. When you turn on your kitchen faucet, water is carried from the tank to your tap, providing you with fresh water on demand. Reverse osmosis systems work slowly, purifying water one drop at a time. A reverse osmosis storage tank ensures you can access this water whenever you need, without waiting for the system to painstakingly fill up your glass. Many wells are low-pressure and low-recovery and are tasked with providing pressurized water throughout a household or business. A well pressure tank ensures that when you turn your shower on or flush your toilet, you have immediate access to pressurized water. They also help extend the life of the well pump by protecting the pump from short-cycling.

Water storage tanks come in all shapes, sizes, and configurations, and are used for a variety of purposes across the water treatment industry. From a small, 5-gallon reverse osmosis tank stored neatly under your sink to a towering 120-gallon well pressure tank, water storage tanks are an integral part of many household water systems. Large, outdoor atmospheric tanks can store thousands of gallons of rainwater, well water, or be used for fire suppression. These tanks are usually equipped with UV inhibitors, preventing sunlight from facilitating algae and bacterial growth within the tank. Thermal expansion tanks prevent water heaters on closed water supplies from leaking and bursting.

How does a water storage tank work?

A water storage tank holds clean water from your reverse osmosis system until a demand for water is initiated in the house or business. Water is pumped into the tank from the water source, like a well or a reverse osmosis system. The tank accumulates water until it is full. When you need access to water, be it to fill your glass up with crystal clear water, run a bath, or irrigate a field, the storage tank provides you with instantaneous access to water.

Water storage tanks are generally either pressure tanks or atmospheric tanks. Point-of-use applications, like reverse osmosis storage tanks, usually implement pressure tanks. Outdoor applications or large scale municipal water storage operations usually use atmospheric tanks.