600 Gallon Plastic Water Storage Tank: Complete Buyer's Guide
600-gallon black water storage tank built for safe potable water storage. Manufactured by Norwesco from virgin linear polyethylene (HDPE) rated to handle liquids up to 9.2 pounds per gallon. FDA approved for contact with potable water, ensuring safe storage for drinking water and food-grade liquids.
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 600 Gallon Plastic Water Storage Tank is the squat, stable workhorse of the mid-size water lineup. Where most tanks this volume stand tall, this one is wider than it is high — 64 inches across and only 50 inches tall — which lowers its center of gravity, fits it under low cover, and makes it forgiving on a slightly imperfect pad. It is a natural fit for a barn aisle, a low equipment shed, a deck-side rain catch, or anywhere a tall tank simply will not clear the roof.
Norwesco molds it in one seamless piece of virgin linear polyethylene, rated to 1.1 specific gravity for water and water-based liquids to 9.2 pounds per gallon, with a 120 F / 48 C ceiling. The black pigment keeps sunlight out of the water, which both starves algae and gives the wall its toughest UV resistance for years of outdoor duty.
The tank weighs just 90 pounds empty and about 5,594 pounds full at 1.1 SG, so it sets on a firm, level base without an engineered slab. It comes plumbed with a 2-inch NPT outlet and an included 1.5-inch NPT inlet, and the 8-inch lid handles filling, venting, and a float valve. Norwesco's 3-year warranty against manufacturing defects applies to every unit.
Technical Drawing
Official Norwesco technical drawing — 600 Gallon Plastic Water Storage Tank
Key Features and Specifications
- 600-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
- 50" tall x 64" diameter — compact vertical footprint
- 90 lbs empty, approximately 5,594 lbs when full at rated specific gravity
- 2 NPT outlet fitting — factory installed and leak-tested
- 1.5 NPT inlet fitting included
- 8" 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
- Place on a firm, level surface free of rocks or sharp objects that could damage the tank bottom. Ensure adequate ventilation if stored chemicals produce vapors
- Ships via LTL freight — allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. Lift gate and residential delivery available at additional cost
Installation and Setup Guide
The low, wide stance of this 600-gallon tank is its installation advantage. With the weight spread over a 64-inch diameter and a height of only 50 inches, the loaded tank — about 5,594 pounds — is stable and tolerant, but it still rewards a properly prepared base.
Base Preparation
Set it on firm, level ground that sheds water. A compacted gravel bed or a slab both serve; the wide footprint means you have more area to keep flat, so sweep and screed the surface carefully and clear every stone before the tank goes down. Because the diameter is large relative to the height, even a modest tilt becomes obvious as an off-level water line, so take the time to bring the base true.
Connections
Run your fill to the included 1.5-inch inlet and your draw off the 2-inch outlet. A wide, short tank has a shorter water column than a tall one, so the gravity head at the outlet is gentler — if you need pressure for irrigation or stock waterers, plan on a pump rather than relying on elevation. Use flexible hose for the first foot at each fitting to absorb the seasonal movement of the polyethylene wall, and add an isolation valve at the outlet.
Venting
Fit a screened breather in the 8-inch lid so air can replace water as the tank draws down. The lid is smaller than on the big upright tanks, which is plenty for a 600-gallon vessel, but the screen still matters: it keeps insects and windblown debris out of stored drinking water while letting the tank breathe.
Maintenance and Long-Term Care
This is a potable tank, so its upkeep is true water maintenance. The low profile makes the routine easy — you can reach the lid without a ladder and walk the whole circumference in seconds.
Regular Checks
- Wall and base: Glance over the wide wall for any bulge or distortion and confirm the tank still sits dead level on its base. A wide tank telegraphs an uneven pad quickly as a slanted water line through the fittings.
- Fittings: Hand-tighten the 2-inch outlet and 1.5-inch inlet if they have crept under steady pressure. Skip the pipe wrench — poly threads only need hand-tight plus a slight snug.
- Lid and screen: Make sure the 8-inch lid seats fully and the vent screen is intact and clear, so nothing gets into the water.
Annual Sanitizing
Drain and flush the floor once a year to clear settled sediment, then disinfect before refilling using the potable standard: a quarter cup of unscented household bleach per fifteen gallons, held in the filled tank for two hours, then drained and rinsed until the chlorine odor clears. The low height makes this an easy tank to flush and refill without special equipment.
Climate Notes
The black pigment and molded UV package carry the tank through years of sun; an annual check of the sun-facing wall is enough in harsh climates. In freezing weather, the shallow water column in a wide tank can chill quickly, so keep it in active turnover or drain it for winter to avoid ice damage.
Alternatives and Comparisons
At 600 gallons the choice almost always comes down to shape, and this tank is deliberately built on the low-and-wide side of that decision.
Low-profile vs. tall vertical: This 50-inch-tall, 64-inch-wide tank wins wherever overhead room is tight or stability on uneven ground matters — sheds, decks, trailers, and barns. The trade-off is gravity head: a taller 600-gallon vertical delivers more outlet pressure and a smaller ground footprint, which suits open yards and pump-house corners. If you are feeding by pump anyway, the low tank's easy access and forgiving stance usually make it the better pick.
Other 600-Gallon Options
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will the 600 Gallon Plastic Water Storage Tank last?
With a level base and use inside its 1.1 SG and 120 F ratings, this tank comfortably runs 15 to 20 years. Its black, UV-loaded wall is built to stand in the sun for the long haul, and the seamless body has no joints that can split. An annual drain-and-sanitize keeps the water fresh and the tank in shape well past the warranty term.
What chemicals can I store in this tank?
It is an FDA-approved potable-water tank, so drinking water, livestock water, and irrigation are its core duties, along with any water-based liquid within its 1.1 specific-gravity rating. It is not designed for fuels, solvents, or harsh industrial chemicals — those belong in a 1.5-SG liquid tank with a verified compatibility check.
What kind of foundation does a 600-gallon tank need?
A full 600-gallon tank weighs about 5,594 pounds, easily supported by a compacted gravel pad or a small slab; no engineered foundation is required. The wide footprint actually makes the base easier to keep stable, provided the surface is flat and clear of rocks across its full diameter.
Does this tank come with a warranty?
Yes — Norwesco's 3-year warranty covers manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship under normal use. It addresses molded-in faults, not damage from a poor base, overfilling, incompatible chemicals, or impact. Keep your receipt and an installation photo for any claim.
Can I install this tank underground?
No. The vertical wall is not engineered for soil pressure, so burying this tank risks collapse and voids the warranty. For below-grade water storage, our underground cisterns are reinforced specifically to handle the load of surrounding earth.
Buying Considerations
Three quick checks before ordering this 600-gallon tank. First, the footprint: it needs a level area better than five feet across, so confirm you have the width even though you save on height. Second, the fittings — it ships with the 2-inch outlet and 1.5-inch inlet, so size your plumbing to those threads. Third, delivery: at 90 pounds empty it palletizes for standard LTL and two people or a lift-gate can set it. Listed at $880.00 before freight, with a quote to your ZIP.
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