Norwesco 1700 Gallon Underground Water Storage Cistern Tank

Where this tank goes

Under a yard, a drive or a field: a rainwater store fed from the roof, a buffer for a slow well, a reserve for a cabin or a stock watering system. Buried water stays cool and dark, which keeps it from growing algae and from freezing in most climates below frost depth. The 1.9 rating is more than water needs; it is there because the wall of a buried tank carries soil load, not because the contents are heavy. For how a cistern fits into a rainwater or reuse system, read rainwater and reuse tank topology; for a fire reserve, read fire water reservoir design for rural sites. Use the tank sizing calculator and tank sizing guide to turn a roof area or a daily draw into a volume.

Openings, risers and what to check before you buy

1. Manway. One 20 inch manway cover on top. It is the access for the pump, the float and the inspection, so it must come to grade.
2. Risers and extensions. Norwesco lists these for this tank: a 6 inch extension (N-63832), a 15 inch extension (N-63833), a 24 inch extension (N-63834), a 23 inch riser with a 12 inch lid (N-63831) and a 36 inch riser with a 6 inch lid (N-63830). Norwesco's note counts two manholes at a quantity of two each; the tank is listed with one 20 inch manway, so tell us the depth to grade and we will confirm the count and the parts before the order ships.
3. Inlet and outlet. No fittings are listed with this tank. Tell us where the feed and the suction line enter and what size they are, and we will confirm what can be fitted and what the installer drills on site.
4. Depth of bury. The tank is 70 inches tall. Add the riser and the cover you need and check that against the water table and the vehicle loads that will cross the site; a cistern under a drive needs a design, not a guess.
5. Drawing. Norwesco's drawing for this tank is linked on this page under Technical Drawing, with the manway position and the rib pattern the backfill has to pack into.

Sizes nearby

One size down: the 1450 gallon underground cistern. One size up: the 1750 gallon underground cistern. Each page carries its own dimensions, so compare the hole you can dig against all three.

Shipping, receiving and setting

The tank ships LTL under NMFC 156600-02, 135 by 55 by 70 inches and 553 lb, from the nearest of Norwesco's plants in Griffin, Georgia; Hanford, California; Lancaster, Ohio; Owego, New York; Shawnee, Oklahoma; St. Bonifacius, Minnesota; Tooele, Utah and Washougal, Washington. The listed price is before freight; the freight cost estimator gives the lane cost to your ZIP. Have the hole open and the bedding ready for the delivery window so the tank is lifted once. At the tailgate, check the part number against 41330 and walk the shell before you sign. Set the tank on a level bed of compacted sand or pea gravel, never on rock, and follow Norwesco's installation instructions for filling with water in stages as you backfill so the pressure inside keeps pace with the soil outside. Our water fill and leak check method is the acceptance test to run before the hole is closed.

Questions before you order? Call 866-418-1777.