The Norwesco 1500 Gallon Multi-Use Underground Liquid Storage Tank is a blue polyethylene Bruiser tank built for below-grade water and dilute-liquid storage where an above-ground tank isn't an option. It holds 1,500 gallons, measures 135 inches long by 55 inches wide by 70 inches tall, and carries IAPMO approval - the third-party listing plumbing inspectors and code officials need to sign off on an underground installation. IAPMO-listed for multi-use underground liquid storage, this is not a code-rated septic tank, so read the listing for what it is before you spec it. If you've been searching for an underground Norwesco storage tank an inspector will actually accept, that IAPMO listing is the reason this one belongs on your short list.
Will it work for your installation?
Plan the excavation and bedding around the real footprint: 55.0 x 135.0 inches, with the tank standing 70 inches tall. Full of water it weighs roughly 12,510 pounds, so the bed it sits in - plus any backfill and compaction around it - has to carry that load without shifting. Underground tanks live or die on burial detail, so confirm Norwesco's installation requirements for bury depth, bedding, and water-table conditions for your site before you dig. This tank is rated for water and dilute liquids; for anything heavier than water, confirm a specific-gravity-rated tank rather than assuming this one covers it. To match the 1,500-gallon capacity to your real draw and reserve, run the numbers through our Tank Sizing Calculator or the Tank Sizing Guide; if it's feeding a rural fire reserve, our fire-water reservoir design guide walks through NFPA 22 sizing and cold-climate freeze protection. An underground tank still breathes as liquid moves in and out, so size the vent for thermal in/out-breathing using our API 2000 vent-capacity worked examples, which cover 1,500-to-10,000-gallon tanks directly.
The mistake to avoid
The fitting sizes and locations aren't listed in the catalog record here, and on a buried tank that detail matters more than on any other - inlet, outlet, manway, and vent connections can't be reworked once backfill is in. Verify every fitting size and position against the technical drawing on this page, and order your bulkhead fittings and gaskets to match, before excavation. The second trap is IAPMO scope: that approval is not interchangeable across product types. If your project is a septic system, the relevant question is the specific septic approval and how it maps to your jurisdiction's plumbing code - our breakdown of Norwesco IAPMO and CSA B66 septic tank approvals covers the cross-border scope and where US codes draw the line. Confirm the approval that matches your application before you commit.
Freight and ordering
This tank ships LTL freight from the nearest of Norwesco's plants - Griffin, GA; Lancaster, OH; Owego, NY; Shawnee, OK; St. Bonifacius, MN; Tooele, UT; or Washougal, WA - which keeps the long haul off your bill on a tank this size. Freight is the single biggest unknown on a 1,500-gallon tank, and we quote it live to your ZIP: get a number in seconds with the Freight Cost Estimator, or call 866-418-1777 and we'll line up the closest plant and confirm delivery details for your underground install.
