A 3,000-gallon black potable-water tank standing just over nine feet tall on a 95-inch base — a large drinking-water reserve for homes, ranches, and emergency supply. FDA-approved Norwesco polyethylene in opaque black to block light and algae, plumbed at the factory with a 2-inch outlet and a 1.5-inch inlet.

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.

Manufacturer	Norwesco
Manufacturer Part #	N-40635
Nominal Capacity	3000 Gallons
Footprint (Diameter)	95"
Overall Height	109"
Empty Weight	405 lb
Material	Polyethylene (HDPE)
Color	Black
Rated Specific Gravity	1.1
Certifications	FDA Approved, UV Stabilized
Warranty	3 Year
Shipping	OVS

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 3000 Gallon Plastic Water Storage Tank steps up the reserve from the 2,500 while keeping the same 95-inch base, gaining its extra 500 gallons through additional height — 109 inches, just over nine feet. It is the tank for a property that wants a deep, dependable water cache: weeks of household supply, sustained livestock watering, or a substantial emergency store.

The opaque black wall is the tank's quiet workhorse, blocking the light that would otherwise grow algae in a translucent vessel and keeping the stored water clearer between turnovers. The factory fits both a 2-inch outlet near the base and a 1.5-inch inlet, so fill and draw are ready to connect, and the 16-inch lid accepts a float valve, sensor, or submersible pump.

The empty shell is 405 pounds. Filled with water at the rated 1.1 specific gravity — about 9.2 pounds per gallon — the tank reaches roughly 27,927 pounds, around fourteen tons on the 49.2-square-foot base. The added height over the 2,500 raises the fill point and the outlet head while keeping the same footprint.

Seamless molding leaves no joint to leak, the tank is FDA-approved for potable water and food-grade liquids, and Norwesco's 3-year defect warranty applies. Owing to its height it ships by dedicated freight, which we coordinate with you.

Technical Drawing

Official Norwesco technical drawing — 3000 Gallon Plastic Water Storage Tank - Black (95" x 109")

Key Features and Specifications

3,000-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
109" tall x 95" diameter — compact vertical footprint
405 lbs empty, approximately 27,927 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 dedicated freight carrier due to oversized dimensions — contact us for delivery timeline and site access requirements

Installation and Setup Guide

A fourteen-ton water tank over nine feet tall needs a solid base and, as a potable vessel, sanitary protected connections. The extra height over the 2,500 also means the lid sits higher, so plan access.

Site Preparation

Provide a base that fully supports the 95-inch diameter and the fourteen-ton load — a reinforced slab is the safest choice, or a deeply compacted, dead-level pad. Level it within a quarter inch across the width; at nine feet of height, a tilt becomes a lean as the tank fills. Grade the surroundings so runoff drains away from the lid and connections.

Placement and Connections

Draw through the factory 2-inch outlet and fill via the included 1.5-inch inlet, using NSF-listed PVC or food-grade fittings and a flex section ahead of rigid pipe. Fit a screened, insect-proof vent in the lid and protect the elevated fill point. Plan safe access to the nine-foot lid, and leave clearance for inspection around the base.

Venting

The taller column makes venting matter in both directions: the wall can crease under vacuum on a fast draw and stress under pressure on a fast fill. Use a screened lid vent sized to your flow rates that keeps air pace while excluding insects and debris.

Maintenance and Long-Term Care

Water quality joins the structural checks. The greater depth holds more water longer, so regular turnover and annual sanitizing matter even more here.

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Quarterly Inspection Checklist

Water quality: Check for cloudiness, sediment, or odor signaling stagnation in the deeper reserve.
Wall and plumb: Sight up the column for any lean and scan the wall for bulging or distortion.
Fittings: Look over both the 2-inch outlet and 1.5-inch inlet for weeping and snug them by hand.
Vent and lid: Confirm the screened vent is undamaged and the lid closes tight against insects and debris.

Cleaning

Drain and sanitize at least annually. After clearing sediment, sanitize with a chlorine solution at about a quarter cup of unscented household bleach per fifteen gallons, hold it a couple of hours to contact all surfaces, then drain and flush with fresh water until no chlorine smell remains. Refill with clean potable water, and turn the reserve over regularly so the larger volume does not sit stagnant.

UV and Weather Protection

The black pigment provides both UV protection and algae defense across the tall wall. In freezing climates, protect exposed plumbing and avoid letting the full tank freeze solid, since ice expansion can stress even a sound shell.

Alternatives and Comparisons

This 3,000-gallon black water tank gains volume over the 2,500 by adding height on the same footprint — a good choice where ground area is fixed but overhead is available. A white liquid-storage tank of similar size is built for heavier chemicals at 1.5 specific gravity and is not for drinking water, so it is the wrong tool for water. For a still-larger reserve, a 5,000-gallon black water tank steps up; for less, the 1,550 or 2,500 black tanks serve. As always, water goes in black, chemicals in white.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will the 3000 Gallon Plastic Water Storage Tank - Black (95" x 109") last?

With a level base and routine sanitizing, fifteen to twenty years of reliable drinking-water service is realistic. The seamless mold and black UV-and-algae pigment make the shell durable. The usual life-shorteners are a poor foundation, freezing a full tank solid, or impact; chemical attack is not a concern with clean water.

What chemicals can I store in this tank?

It is purpose-built and FDA-approved for potable water and food-grade liquids, which is its intended use. Rated to 1.1 specific gravity, it is not built for the heavier chemicals that white 1.5-SG liquid-storage tanks handle. For fertilizers or chemicals, pick a white liquid-storage tank rated to hold them.

What kind of foundation does a 3000-gallon tank need?

A full load is about 27,927 pounds across the 95-inch base, calling for a reinforced slab at this weight or a dead-level compacted pad. Keep the surface flat within a quarter inch, and because the tank stands over nine feet, levelness is critical so it does not lean as it fills. Grade for drainage away from the connections.

Does this tank come with a warranty?

Yes, the unit is warranted three years by Norwesco against material and workmanship defects including molding and fitting flaws. It does not cover a frozen full tank, a poor base, or impact damage. Keep both the receipt and install photos accessible should you need to file.

Can I install this tank underground?

No. It is an above-ground water tank whose flat walls cannot take burial pressure and would collapse. For below-grade potable storage, use an underground cistern engineered with ribbed, reinforced walls.

Buying Considerations

Three checks before ordering. First, the height — at just over nine feet, confirm overhead clearance and safe access to the lid. Second, plumbing — verify the included 2-inch outlet and 1.5-inch inlet fit your system with potable-rated connections. Third, foundation and freight — fourteen tons full wants a level load-bearing base, and the tank ships by dedicated freight needing equipment to set. Call us to coordinate delivery and discuss your pad.