On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 01:15:47 +0100, Janet Galpin wrote:

I was all set to go for a plastic one but the chap who is likely to
fit it mentioned two disadvantages. One is that when they go, they
go quite suddenly and leak fast rather than seeping gently like
steel tanks.

You're much more likely to notice a fast leak than a slow one which
may go on for years and contaminate a huge amount of ground that
you(*) will have to pay to be removed and disposed of.

Second is that he can't dispose easily of old plastic tanks whereas
steel ones can be taken to a scrap merchant. He implied that the
life expectancy of a plastic tank is not much better than a steel
one, though I didn't ask him directly.

My mind wonders if he has a stock of steel tanks that he can't
shift... Again check the regs, all the new tanks I've not seen around
here have been plastic. I guess if you keep a steel tank maintained it
will have a good long life, like plastic. But with plastic it's pretty
much fit and forget.

Our plastic tank has been in place for a good ten years, exposed to
the SW'ly gales and winter storms it also directly catches the summer
sun. The surface might be degrading slightly but nothing I'm worried
about. This is a Titan tank.

I assume bunding is a kind of reinforcement.

A bund is some form of secondary containment that can hold at least
110% of the tank capacity. Look at large oil storage tanks you'll find
them surrounded by a wall with no drain inside. All in one plastic
bunded tanks are a tank within a tank.

Mine will be a long way from any building, but should I consider a
bunded tank for length of life?

Life (and disposal of old tank) shouldn't be a issue, we are talking
20 years or more, who knows what the regs will be by then. If you can
afford it go for a bunded tank even for a small domestic supply. Land
clean up costs can be phenominal. You may even get a hefty fine if it
gets into the ground water.

(*) Or your insurance company, check your cover...

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail