The Chem-Tainer 55 Gallon Vertical Water Storage Tank (SKU TC2038IW-NAT) is a compact white polyethylene tank built for point-of-use water storage where floor space is tight. It stands 38 inches tall on a 20 x 20-inch footprint and holds 55 gallons of fresh water in a single upright cylinder. At 20 inches in diameter it clears a standard 32-inch doorway, so it tucks into corners, utility rooms, and equipment skids without a wide base getting in the way. If you need dependable vertical water storage in a small package, this is the size that does it without the bulk of a larger tank.
Will it work for your water storage job?
This tank carries a 1.0 specific gravity rating, which matches the weight of fresh water exactly and is the correct rating for fresh-water storage, rainwater capture, fire-water reserve, and general-purpose water service. Filled to capacity, 55 gallons of water weighs 459 pounds, which is also the maximum rated contents weight for this tank. Plan your stand, pad, or platform around that full load, not the empty tank weight. The 20 x 20-inch footprint concentrates that weight on a small area, so a level, fully supported surface matters here more than on a wide-base tank. To confirm this is the right capacity for your draw rate and refill cycle, run the numbers through our Tank Sizing Calculator or read the Tank Sizing Guide. If you are weighing this Chem-Tainer against other brands, our Snyder vs Norwesco vs Chem-Tainer vertical storage tank comparison walks through how the three lines stack up.
The mistake to avoid
A 1.0 SG tank is rated for water and water-weight liquids only. Because fresh water is exactly 1.0 specific gravity, this tank sits at the top of its weight rating when full of water, leaving no margin for denser liquids. Do not use it for solutions heavier than water; anything with a higher specific gravity needs a tank rated above 1.0. For a chemical or heavier-than-water solution, call 866-418-1777 and we will match you to a tank rated for the load. Keep this one in fresh-water service and it will do its job for years. The same support and freeze-protection discipline that applies to a small fire-water reserve is covered in our guide on fire-water reservoir tank design for rural and remote sites. For rainwater capture and grey-water reuse, the same fresh-water rating applies, and our guide on industrial water reuse tank topology covers how these tanks fit a quality-banded reuse train.
Mounting, plumbing, and pad support
Above-ground polyethylene tanks transfer their full load straight down through the base, so the pad or stand needs to carry the rated 459 pounds across the 20 x 20-inch footprint without flexing. For permanent installations, our walkthrough on concrete pad sizing for above-ground polyethylene tanks lays out the framework for getting the base right. Fitting and outlet configuration is confirmed at order, so call 866-418-1777 or check the technical drawing on this page before you plumb your install, and review that drawing for the exact dimensions before you build your stand or cut your opening.
This vertical water storage tank ships LTL freight, quoted live to your ZIP from the nearest stocking plant in Hanford, CA or Lake Wales, FL. Those West Coast and Southeast shipping points mean shorter LTL lanes and lower freight for most of the country. Get an exact freight number for your delivery address with our Freight Cost Estimator, or call us at 866-418-1777 and we will line up the closest shipping point and walk you through delivery options.
