The Norwesco 15500 Gallon Black Vertical Storage Tank is built for the bulk water programs where a smaller tank simply runs out: rural fire-water reservoirs, agricultural and industrial process water, rainwater capture, and reuse trains. Molded in black polyethylene with a 1.5 specific-gravity rating, this Norwesco vertical storage tank stands 244 inches tall on a 141 x 141-inch footprint and holds 15,500 gallons. The black resin blocks light to discourage algae growth in stored water, and the vertical, flat-bottom design is engineered to sit on a properly prepared pad. Here is what you need to confirm it fits your site, how it ships, and the one planning step people skip.
Confirm it fits before you buy
On a tank this size, the numbers that decide the order are height, footprint, and load. Run this check first:
- Overhead clearance of at least 244 inches for the tank height.
- An engineered, level pad of at least 141 x 141 inches in full contact with the base.
- A foundation designed for roughly 129,270 lb of full-water load (the tank plus 15,500 gallons of plain water).
- Site access for an oversized LTL offload.
At its 1.5 specific-gravity rating, the maximum rated contents weight is 193,905 lb. That 1.5 SG figure is the wall's structural reserve for heavier-than-water liquids, not a chemical-service clearance on its own; for water you have substantial headroom. Use the Tank Sizing Calculator and Tank Sizing Guide to confirm 15,500 gallons matches your drawdown and refill cycle.
Lid, fittings, and the technical drawing
The documented access and fill point is a 22-inch manway lid (the drawing on this page reflects the revision for the 22-inch lid). No additional outlets or fittings are listed in the data for this tank, so review the technical drawing on this page and confirm the lid, outlet, and fitting layout against your fill and vent piping before you order. If anything is unclear, call us and we will walk the drawing with you.
Foundation and application planning
A tank this large lives or dies on its foundation. The roughly 129,270 lb full-water load concentrates on the 141 x 141-inch base, so the pad has to be engineered, level, and full-contact. Our guide on concrete pad sizing for above-ground polyethylene tanks walks through the ACI 360R-10 framework and where the ACI 318 boundary applies. For a private fire-protection stack, the fire-water reservoir tank design guide covers NFPA 22 sizing discipline and cold-climate freeze protection. For grey-water, rainwater, or HVAC condensate programs, see our work on industrial water reuse tank topology and first-flush diverter sizing.
The mistake to avoid
The most common errors on a tank this large are treating the 1.5 SG rating as a green light for any liquid and pouring a pad sized for the empty tank. The 1.5 rating describes the wall's structural reserve for denser contents, not chemical compatibility; for water service this tank is well within range, but if your end use ever shifts toward a denser or reactive liquid, confirm chemistry before you fill. And always design the foundation for the full-water load, never the empty shell.
This Norwesco vertical tank ships by LTL freight from the Hanford, California plant, quoted live to your ZIP. It ships from that single plant, so West Coast buyers see the shortest haul, while East and Central buyers should expect a long LTL run on an oversized item and should run a quote early. Because of its height and footprint, site access and offload equipment matter. Get an exact number with our Freight Cost Estimator, or call 866-418-1777 and we will work the route, the nearest origin, and offload requirements with you. Listed price is before freight; freight is quoted separately to your delivery ZIP.
