The Norwesco 1250 gallon black heavy-duty vertical storage tank is built for above-ground bulk water storage where UV exposure and weather are constant. The black polyethylene wall blocks sunlight, which suppresses algae growth in stored water far better than translucent tanks. At 60 inches in diameter and 114 inches tall, it holds 1,250 gallons on a compact 60.0 x 60.0 inch footprint, and the 1.9 specific gravity rating is the heavy-duty wall build, engineered for contents denser than plain water. If you have searched for a Norwesco vertical storage tank or a heavy-duty black vertical tank, this is the size that anchors most rural water, fire-reserve, and process-feed installs.
Will it work for your site
Plan the pad and plumbing around real loaded weight, not the empty shell. Filled with water this tank carries 10,425 pounds, and at its maximum rated contents weight it reaches 19,808 pounds. That number drives everything underneath it: a level, full-contact base is mandatory, and any concrete pad has to be sized for the loaded mass. The 60-inch dimension is the tank diameter, so size the pad to exceed 60 x 60 inches and leave clearance for fittings and plumbing on the side. Our guide to concrete pad sizing for above-ground polyethylene tanks walks through the ACI framework for getting that base right. If you are still confirming whether 1,250 gallons matches your draw and refill cycle, run the numbers in our Tank Sizing Calculator or read the Tank Sizing Guide first.
The 1.9 specific gravity rating, and where buyers get it wrong
The most common mistake on a tank like this is misreading the 1.9 specific gravity rating. That rating describes how dense a liquid the tank wall is built to hold at full level. For water, which has a specific gravity near 1.0, you have a wide structural margin, and this 1.9-rated heavy-duty build already covers process and denser-than-water contents without stepping up to anything else. What the rating does not do is qualify the tank for any particular chemical or regulated contents by itself. For dimensions, outlet positions, and wall detail, see the technical drawing on this page rather than estimating from the photo.
Fittings and gaskets: confirm before you order
Reference the outlet and fitting layout in the technical drawing before you order bulkhead fittings or schedule a plumber. Each fitting needs a gasket matched to the stored liquid: for contents denser than water the 1.9-SG wall has structural margin, but the gasket and fitting material are the compatibility-limiting parts of the assembly, not the polyethylene. We will spec compatible bulkhead fittings and gaskets with you by phone before the order ships, so the connections match both the drawing and your contents.
Common uses for this size
This 1,250 gallon size is a workhorse for rural and remote water supply, including private fire-protection reserves. If a fire-water role is on your list, the engineering discipline behind reservoir sizing and freeze protection is covered in our fire-water reservoir tank design guide. For grey-water, rainwater, and condensate reuse setups, our industrial water reuse tank topology guide shows how a tank this size fits a quality-banded storage train.
This tank ships LTL freight from the Norwesco plant in Fairfield, Texas, with the rate quoted live to your ZIP code. The Texas origin generally means shorter LTL lanes and lower freight for South-Central buyers. Use the Freight Cost Estimator for a freight rate quoted to your ZIP, or call 866-418-1777 and we will line up the shipment and confirm fittings, gaskets, and sizing before you order.
