"How-to-repair" your water tank starting with the first step, measure your tank

To measure your tank is actually quite a simple process and made alot easier with two people. Just know that "how-to-repair" a water tank can be made so much easier when each step is done in order.

Why do I need to measure my problem tank?

Whatever you finally decide on how-to-repair your leaking tank, whether a coating, concrete water-proofing, a liner or replacement, knowing the square footage of the floor, the wall and how many gallons is very important.

"How-to-repair" and what the option decided upon will be dictated by these measurement specs. They will allow you to compare the alternatives in regard to price-per-gallon.

Take for example an operator offering to fibreglass your tank. How much will it cost? They will tell you so much per-square-foot. Looking at the measurements taken, you will be able to decide pretty darn close to how much money the job is worth.

Now that right there will save your time, the operators time, and the chance of getting into the situation of "aw heck, didn't know it was going to be as much as that, wouldn't have done this if I'd known before the job started"!

Another benefit from knowing the spec's is after looking at the options, it may be decided to just go ahead and purchase a new tank. Quoting the capacity of the leaking tank to a distributor/installer allows for comparison between sizes. Possibility of increasing or reducing the storage capacity in relation to the demand on supply.

leaking tank repair sheet

What measurements do I need?

To obtain the dimensions and storage capacity of your tank, lets begin by measuring the circumference. Depending on the size of the tank, a fairly long tape measure will be needed.
Running the tape at approximately the same height off the ground all the way round (if this is not possible, mark in stages), to come up with a total. Take the total and divide by 8.
Take this figure and mark off 8 points around the top edge of the tank, numbering them 1 through 8.

I find chalk the best marking material for this purpose.

Now with clipboard in hand and a reliable pen or pencil, you and the helper can measure 4 different diameters, make sure to include the inside and outside measurements.

Why so many?

This is part of getting to know your leaking tank and there will be no need to go back for more measurements. If you decide to go with a liner retrofit, these will definitely be needed.

As you proceed to take these measurements, take the depth at each point. There will be 8 depth figures and 4 diameter figure totals.

Why do I need 8 depth points?

Alot of tanks, this will relate mainly to older concrete tanks, may have ups and downs in the floor.
I have installed a liner in a real old concrete tank one time that had at least a 2 foot difference between the low and high points!
A supplier will need to know the deepest point for the manufacture of a liner. Once again, just saving you the time and expense of going back to get more measurements.

Storage Capacity

Looking at the 4 inside diameter lengths, take the mean or average. Likewise take the mean/average height.
To figure how many gallons in your tank, do as follows; diam. x diam. x hgt x 5.86 = total gallons

How many square feet?

Now this may sound strange with a round tank, then somehow figure square feet! It is possible and here is how. Quite a simple process.

Floor Sq. Ft. diam. x diam. x 80% = sq. ft. of floor.

Wall Sq. Ft. diam. x hgt. x 3.14159 = sq. ft. of wall.

Okay, you are starting to know your tank better than thought possible. Deciding upon the option that best fits the problem can be achieved by going over what you have seen and how far your budget will allow you to go.

Ask yourself these questions and then the answers will give some direction.

How serious is the water tank leak problem?

Is the water level going down so fast that the pump or windmill can hardly keep up? You need to have addressed the problem yesterday (unless there are too many cows coming to the one and only water supply).

A level gauge can help keep track of water levels. Marking the tank wall at different times of the day and jotting down the levels.Look at who or what is using the water.

Minor hairline cracks with dampness coming through.
Time is on your side here but each year those cracks will get alittle bigger with each freeze.

Moisture coming out underneath. This is a concern due to the fact that if there are cracks in the base of the tank, this will in turn lead to ground movement and eroding away of the foundation. Concrete does not like movement!

Moisture underneath may also be leakage from around the plumbing fittings. This can be fixed by a epoxy coating and needs to be done. "How to repair" a leaking concrete or steel tank, know the size, storage capacity and then decide upon the severity of the problem. How old is the tank and will the repair last or outlast the tank.

I find that if there is a major leakage going on, especially if it is from the base, either a liner retrofit or a new tank would be the best option.

If there are only hairline cracks in the wall, an epoxy coating or fibreglass coating would be more suitable.
There are some very good alternatives available and advice is only as far as the computer or phone.

I would be thrilled to hear how you solved the leaking problem and eventually set up a page to help others in the quest to reduce the wastage of the world's most valuable resource.

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