5000 Gallon Plastic Water Storage Tank - Black (102" x 152"): Complete Buyer's Guide
A 5,000-gallon black potable-water tank standing nearly thirteen feet tall — a major drinking-water reserve for large properties, ranches, fire-protection supply, and community caches. FDA-approved Norwesco polyethylene in opaque black to block light and algae, plumbed with a 2-inch outlet and a 1.5-inch inlet, with over twenty-three tons of water when full.
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 5000 Gallon Plastic Water Storage Tank is bulk potable storage for operations that measure their water needs in days and weeks, not hours. At 152 inches tall on a 102-inch base, it anchors a large rural property's water system, a stock operation, a fire-suppression reserve, or a community emergency supply where a deep, reliable cache is essential.
As with the smaller black tanks, the opaque wall is the defense against algae, blocking the light that would cloud water in a translucent vessel and keeping the large reserve clearer between turnovers. The factory installs a 2-inch outlet near the base and a 1.5-inch inlet for connection, and the 16-inch lid accepts float valves, level sensors, or a submersible pump for an automated system.
The empty shell is 845 pounds and needs equipment to handle. Filled with water at the rated 1.1 specific gravity — about 9.2 pounds per gallon — the tank reaches roughly 46,715 pounds, over twenty-three tons on the 56.7-square-foot base. That load requires a properly engineered foundation. The tall column also gives the outlet a strong head for gravity feed or pump priming.
It is molded in one piece with no leak-prone joint, FDA-approved for drinking water and food-grade liquids, and backed by a 3-year Norwesco warranty. Because of its size it moves by dedicated freight and needs planned access, both of which we arrange with you.
Technical Drawing
Official Norwesco technical drawing — 5000 Gallon Plastic Water Storage Tank - Black (102" x 152")
Key Features and Specifications
- 5,000-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
- 152" tall x 102" diameter — compact vertical footprint
- 845 lbs empty, approximately 46,715 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 twenty-three-ton water tank nearly thirteen feet tall is an engineered installation, and as a potable vessel it also demands sanitary, protected connections. Plan the foundation, access, and plumbing together before delivery.
Site Preparation
This tank requires an engineered foundation — typically a reinforced concrete slab designed for the full 46,715-pound load and sized to support the 102-inch base, specified by a structural professional for your soil. The surface must be flat across the diameter within a tight tolerance; at thirteen feet of height, a small tilt becomes a significant lean. Grade the surroundings so runoff drains away from the lid and connections to protect the water.
Placement and Connections
Use the 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 flexible section before rigid pipe to absorb thermal movement. Fit a screened, insect-proof vent and protect the elevated fill point. Build permanent, safe access to the lid nearly thirteen feet up, and leave clearance for inspection around the base.
Venting
Filling or drawing 5,000 gallons moves large air volumes, and a tall wall is prone to vacuum creasing, so generous, screened venting is essential. Size the lid vent to your maximum flow rate so air keeps pace in both directions while keeping insects and debris out of the potable supply.
Maintenance and Long-Term Care
A reserve this large repays disciplined care to keep it safe to drink, and the structural checks scale up with the tank's size and value.
Quarterly Inspection Checklist
- Water quality: Check the large reserve for cloudiness, sediment, or odor; deep stored water needs regular turnover to stay fresh.
- Lower wall and plumb: Inspect the high-stress base ring for bulging or distortion and sight up the column for any lean.
- Fittings: Check the 2-inch outlet and 1.5-inch inlet for weeping under the strong head and hand-tighten as needed.
- Vent and lid: Confirm the screened vent is clear and intact and the lid seals against contamination.
Cleaning
Drain and sanitize at least annually, planning for the large drain volume. After clearing sediment, sanitize with a chlorine solution at about a quarter cup of unscented household bleach per fifteen gallons, hold a couple of hours, then drain and flush with fresh water until no chlorine odor remains. Refill with clean potable water, and turn the reserve over regularly so a large volume never sits stagnant.
UV and Weather Protection
The black pigment gives strong UV protection and algae defense across the tall wall. In cold climates, protect exposed plumbing and prevent a full tank from freezing solid, since ice expansion can stress even this large, sound shell.
Alternatives and Comparisons
This 5,000-gallon black tank is the choice for a large potable reserve, and consolidating into one tank simplifies the foundation and plumbing versus several smaller ones — though multiple tanks give redundancy for critical supply. A white liquid-storage tank of the same dimensions is built for heavier chemicals at 1.5 specific gravity and is not for drinking water. For smaller reserves, the 3,000- or 2,500-gallon black tanks serve; the principle holds throughout — water in black, chemicals in white.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will the 5000 Gallon Plastic Water Storage Tank - Black (102" x 152") last?
With an engineered foundation, a level set, and routine sanitizing, fifteen to twenty years of dependable potable service is a sound expectation, and well-tended tanks often exceed it. The seamless mold and black UV-and-algae pigment make the large shell durable. The life-shorteners are a poor or non-engineered foundation, freezing a full tank, 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 — its intended and best use. With a 1.1 specific-gravity rating, it is not made for the heavier chemicals that white 1.5-SG liquid-storage tanks carry. For fertilizers or chemicals at this scale, choose a white liquid-storage tank rated for them.
What kind of foundation does a 5000-gallon tank need?
A full load is roughly 46,715 pounds, requiring an engineered reinforced concrete foundation designed by a structural professional and sized to support the 102-inch base. At nearly thirteen feet of height, a dead-level slab is essential so the tall tank does not lean, and the area should be graded to drain runoff away from the connections.
Does this tank come with a warranty?
Yes, the tank is backed three years by Norwesco for defects in materials and workmanship, from pinholes to fitting faults. It excludes damage from freezing a full tank, an inadequate or non-engineered foundation, or impact. Hold on to the receipt and install records to support a future claim.
Can I install this tank underground?
No. This is an above-ground water tank; its flat walls cannot withstand the soil and groundwater pressure of burial and would collapse. For below-grade potable storage at this scale, use underground vessels engineered with ribbed, reinforced walls.
Buying Considerations
Plan three things before ordering this large water tank. First, the foundation — over twenty-three tons full requires a professionally engineered slab specified ahead of delivery. Second, height and access — at 845 pounds empty and nearly thirteen feet tall, it ships by dedicated freight and needs equipment to set plus permanent lid access. Third, plumbing — confirm the included 2-inch outlet and 1.5-inch inlet suit your system with potable-rated connections. Get in touch ahead of time and we will arrange delivery and review site needs.
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