Cistern Tanks — Comprehensive Catalog
Underground polyethylene cistern tanks are engineered for buried potable water, rainwater harvest, fire-suppression reserve, and well-water storage applications. The ribbed shell structure handles soil and hydrostatic load to depths specified by the manufacturer (typically 36"–48" cover) without collapse, and ships with sealable manway risers for inspection and pump access. Catalog covers Norwesco, Snyder Industries, Chem-Tainer, Enduraplas, and Bushman below-grade cistern SKUs from 800-gallon residential through 5,025-gallon commercial.
Applications
- Potable drinking water storage (NSF 61 listed models — verify on each SKU)
- Rainwater harvest and stormwater capture (verify against local code)
- Fire-suppression reserve for rural residential and commercial
- Well-water buffer storage for low-yield wells (extends recovery time)
- Irrigation reserve where surface storage isn't practical
Compliance & Standards
Rotomolded to ASTM D1998 from FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 polyethylene. NSF/ANSI 61 certification is required for any cistern that supplies potable drinking water — confirm listing on each SKU. Burial depth, cover load, and high-water-table conditions all affect installation specification: verify OEM burial-depth rating against your site soil and groundwater conditions. H-20 traffic-rated models are required for any cistern installed under driveway, parking area, or vehicle access — confirm rating before burial.
Engineering & Selection
Cistern installation is unforgiving — get it right the first time. (1) Excavation must be flat-bottomed, larger than tank footprint by 12" per side, with 6"–12" of compacted pea-gravel base. (2) Backfill with pea-gravel or clean sand, not native soil; compact in 12" lifts as you fill the tank with water to balance internal/external pressure. (3) High water table: poly cisterns float when groundwater rises and tank is empty — concrete deadman anchor or strap-down hold-down required if you're below seasonal groundwater. (4) Riser and manway: extend to grade for pump and inspection access; insulate riser if you're in a freeze zone.
Freight & Delivery
Tanks ship LTL motor freight from the closest stocking warehouse to your delivery ZIP. Typical transit 5–10 business days. Liftgate available at delivery (per-shipment fee). Always inspect at delivery and note damage on the bill of lading before signing — that is the carrier claim trigger. Bulk-order consolidation reduces per-tank freight 25–40%. Get your LTL freight quote by ZIP, or call 866-418-1777 for same-business-day quoted pricing.
Sizing & Selection
Capacity sizing depends on use case: potable water = peak-day demand × 2; fire suppression = local fire-marshal requirement (typically 2,500–10,000 gal residential); rainwater = (roof sq ft × annual rainfall in) / 144 × 0.85 capture efficiency. 866-418-1777 for install-spec review.
Related Categories
Septic Tanks Rainwater Tanks Vertical Tanks Low-Profile Tanks Horizontal Tanks
