The Norwesco 1425 gallon underground cistern is built for buried water storage where an above-ground tank is impractical. The tank holds 1,425 gallons and measures 51" tall by 60" wide by 157" long, giving a 60" x 157" footprint in the excavation. It is rotationally molded from polyethylene and carries a 1.9 specific gravity rating, so the shell is rated to nearly double the weight of plain water in contents. The tank ships with a single 20" lid as its only access opening. If you are searching for a Norwesco water storage tank, cistern, or underground water tank for buried service, this is the unit.
Will this tank work for your install?
Sizing and excavation work hinge on filled weight, not the empty shell. Full of water, this cistern carries roughly 11,884 lb of contents; at its full 1.9 SG content rating, the tank is rated to hold up to 22,581 lb. That high SG rating is a real margin: the same shell that holds 11,884 lb of water under burial loads is engineered to carry nearly double that weight, which is why it covers heavier-than-water fluids and gives a structural cushion on plain water once the soil and water column come on. For planning the dig, size your excavation, bedding, and clearance around the 60" x 157" x 51" tank body, then confirm bury depth and bedding against Norwesco's published underground installation requirements before you set the tank. Run your real draw and recovery numbers through the Tank Sizing Calculator and the Tank Sizing Guide to confirm 1,425 gallons fits before you commit to the excavation.
Fittings and access
The technical drawing on this page shows a single 20" lid as the only factory opening. There are no pre-molded bulkhead fittings, risers, inlet, or outlet ports, so every plumbing penetration and the access riser are field-installed. Plan your bulkhead fittings, gaskets, vent, and inlet/outlet plumbing around that 20" access point, and keep the lid and any risers reachable at grade after backfill. Spec your field-installed bulkhead fittings and gasket material for the water service and burial conditions before you cut the tank.
Freight: how it ships
This is an LTL freight item at 60" x 157", quoted live to your ZIP. Norwesco molds this tank at multiple plants, and we ship from the location nearest you to keep freight down. For most of the country the closest origins are Lancaster, OH; Shawnee, OK; St. Bonifacius, MN; Tooele, UT; or Washougal, WA. Because a 157"-long tank is a large LTL footprint, get a real number before you budget. Enter your delivery ZIP in the Freight Cost Estimator for a live quote, or call 866-418-1777 and we will route it from the nearest plant.
The mistake to avoid
The most common error on an underground cistern is treating the bury like a simple hole. This tank is engineered to be supported by properly placed bedding and backfill, not dropped into native soil or set on a partial base. Skimping on bedding, uneven backfill, or burying it deeper than Norwesco allows can deform or collapse the shell once it is filled and the soil and water loads come on. Follow the manufacturer's burial depth, bedding gradation, and backfill compaction spec exactly. If you are building a buried reservoir as part of a larger water system, our fire-water reservoir design guide, water reuse topology guide, and hydrostatic test methodology guide walk through sizing discipline, banded storage, and new-install acceptance testing.
Ready to move? Get a live LTL quote in the Freight Cost Estimator or call 866-418-1777 and we will pull stock from the Norwesco plant nearest your ZIP and confirm lead time.
