2500 Gallon Plastic Water Storage Tank - Black (95" x 91") #40631: Complete Buyer's Guide
A 2,500-gallon black potable-water tank in a near-cubic 91-by-95-inch form — substantial reserve in a stable, balanced body. FDA-approved Norwesco polyethylene, pigmented black to stop light and algae, with a factory 2-inch outlet and 1.5-inch inlet already installed for household, ranch, or community water supply.
Specifications at a Glance
Every figure below is pulled straight from the live product record for this exact tank — the same data on the product page, so what you read here and what you buy never disagree.
Standards & Materials
- ASTM D1998 — Standard Specification for Polyethylene Upright Storage Tanks. Governs wall-thickness and hydrostatic design for vertical rotomolded poly tanks of this class.
- FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 — Olefin polymers. The food-contact regulation the FDA-grade resin in this tank is compounded to meet.
- Specific gravity rating 1.1 — the tank is engineered for liquids up to 1.1× the density of water (water is about 8.34 lb/gal). Confirm your fluid’s SG before storage.
Product Overview
The 2500 Gallon Plastic Water Storage Tank holds a serious water reserve — enough for a household through a long outage, a livestock operation's daily needs, or a meaningful community emergency cache. Its near-cubic 91-by-95-inch shape keeps the loaded water low and broad, a steady package that suits permanent outdoor installation.
The black finish is functional, not cosmetic. Opaque black walls block the sunlight that fuels algae, so water stored in this tank stays clearer and fresher than it would in a translucent vessel. The tank ships ready to plumb, with a 2-inch outlet near the base and an included 1.5-inch inlet up top, and the 16-inch lid accepts a float valve, level sensor, or submersible pump.
The empty shell is 339 pounds. Filled with water at the rated 1.1 specific gravity — about 9.2 pounds per gallon — the tank reaches roughly 23,274 pounds, close to twelve tons on the 49.2-square-foot base. That load defines the foundation. Because water is lighter than the chemicals the white tanks carry, the same footprint holds more gallons at a lower wall rating.
The tank is molded seamlessly with no joint to leak, is FDA approved for potable water and food-grade liquids, and carries Norwesco's 3-year defect warranty. Every unit gets our inspection before it ships.
Technical Drawing
Official Norwesco technical drawing — 2500 Gallon Plastic Water Storage Tank - Black (95" x 91") #40631
Key Features and Specifications
- 2,500-gallon capacity — sized for safe potable water storage
- Constructed from virgin linear polyethylene (HDPE) with 1.1 specific gravity rating — handles liquids up to 9.2 lbs/gal
- 91" tall x 95" diameter — compact vertical footprint
- 339 lbs empty, approximately 23,274 lbs when full at rated specific gravity
- 2" NPT outlet fitting — factory installed and leak-tested
- 1.5" NPT inlet fitting included
- 16" lid opening for fill, venting, and interior access
- FDA approved for potable water and food-grade liquid contact
- 3 Year Warranty from Norwesco against manufacturing defects
- UV-resistant black pigmentation provides maximum outdoor durability and inhibits algae growth in stored liquids
- Rated for continuous service up to 120 F / 48 C
- Seamless one-piece rotational molding — no seams, no welds, no leak points
- Manufactured by Norwesco — a leading name in rotomolded polyethylene tanks
- Install on a level, compacted surface. Ensure adequate clearance above for lid access and around the perimeter for plumbing connections and visual inspection
- Ships via LTL freight — allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. Lift gate and residential delivery available at additional cost
Installation and Setup Guide
At twelve tons full, a 2,500-gallon water tank needs a properly sized base, and as a potable vessel it also needs sanitary, protected connections. Both are straightforward with planning.
Site Preparation
Provide a base that fully supports the 95-inch diameter — a reinforced slab is the surest choice at this weight, or a deeply compacted gravel pad confirmed level within a quarter inch across the width. A high spot under one edge of a near-cubic tank loads that quadrant hard. Site the tank so surface runoff and contaminants drain away from the lid and connections.
Placement and Connections
Use the factory 2-inch outlet for draw and the included 1.5-inch inlet for fill, with potable-rated NSF-listed PVC or food-grade fittings and a flex section before rigid pipe. Fit a screened, insect-proof vent in the lid and protect the fill point from contamination. Leave about two feet of clearance for inspection and service around the perimeter.
Venting
The tank must breathe through fill and draw, and on a potable system the vent must also exclude insects and debris. Use a screened lid vent sized to your flow rates so air keeps pace without drawing the wall into vacuum.
Maintenance and Long-Term Care
Keeping the water safe to drink is the added focus alongside the structural checks. A quarterly look-over and an annual sanitize cover it.
Quarterly Inspection Checklist
- Water quality: Check for cloudiness, sediment, or odor indicating stagnation or contamination.
- Wall and base: Look for any bulge or distortion and confirm the slab or pad remains level under the broad base.
- Fittings: Check the 2-inch outlet and 1.5-inch inlet for seepage, hand-tightening where needed.
- Vent and lid: Verify the screened vent is intact and the lid seals against insects and debris.
Cleaning
Drain and sanitize at least once a year. Clear sediment after draining, then sanitize with a chlorine solution at roughly a quarter cup of unscented household bleach per fifteen gallons, let it contact all surfaces for a couple of hours, and drain and flush with fresh water until the chlorine odor is gone. Refill with clean potable water, and turn the stored water over regularly to keep it fresh between cleanings.
UV and Weather Protection
The black pigment serves as both UV protection and algae defense, giving strong outdoor durability. In cold climates, insulate or protect exposed plumbing and avoid letting a full tank freeze solid, as expanding ice can stress the shell.
Alternatives and Comparisons
This near-cubic black water tank is the balanced, stable choice for a 2,500-gallon potable reserve. A white liquid-storage tank of the same dimensions exists, but it is built for heavier chemicals at 1.5 specific gravity and is not finished for drinking water — choose it only if you are storing chemicals. Among water tanks, stepping up to a 3,000- or 5,000-gallon black tank buys more reserve; a smaller 1,550 suits lighter needs. The black-versus-white decision always follows the contents: water in black, chemicals in white.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will the 2500 Gallon Plastic Water Storage Tank - Black (95" x 91") #40631 last?
Fifteen to twenty years of reliable potable service is realistic with a level base and routine sanitizing. The seamless mold has no joints to fail, and the black pigment gives strong UV protection and algae resistance. The usual life-shorteners are a poor foundation, freezing a full tank solid, or impact damage; with clean water, chemical attack is not a concern.
What chemicals can I store in this tank?
It is purpose-built and FDA-approved for potable water and food-grade liquids — that is its intended and best use. Rated to 1.1 specific gravity, it is not constructed for the heavier agricultural and industrial chemicals that white 1.5-SG liquid-storage tanks handle. For fertilizers or chemicals, choose a white liquid-storage tank rated for them.
What kind of foundation does a 2500-gallon tank need?
A full load is about 23,274 pounds across the 95-inch base, which calls for a properly sized base — a reinforced slab at this weight, or a dead-level compacted pad. Keep the surface flat within a quarter inch, and grade the area so runoff drains away from the lid and connections to protect the water.
Does this tank come with a warranty?
Yes. A three-year manufacturer warranty from Norwesco covers pinholes, molding defects, and factory fitting issues. Not covered: damage from letting a full tank freeze, a bad foundation, or impact. File away the invoice and a couple of finished-install photos for warranty needs.
Can I install this tank underground?
No. This is an above-ground water tank; its flat walls cannot withstand burial pressure and would collapse. For below-grade potable storage, use an underground cistern engineered with ribbed, reinforced walls for soil and groundwater loads.
Buying Considerations
Three checks before ordering. First, the near-cubic 91-by-95-inch envelope — confirm both floor space and overhead. Second, plumbing — verify the included 2-inch outlet and 1.5-inch inlet fit your system, and plan potable-rated connections. Third, foundation and freight — twelve tons full wants a level, load-bearing base, and the tank ships LTL needing a forklift to set. Call us to plan delivery and discuss your pad.
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