The Norwesco 3000 Gallon Black Vertical Storage Tank (SKU 45260) is a 3,000-gallon polyethylene vertical storage tank standing 93 inches tall on a 102-inch diameter footprint. The black resin blocks light to slow algae growth in stored water, making it a workhorse for bulk water storage, fire-water reservoirs, rainwater harvesting, and industrial water reuse. Below are the three things that actually decide whether this is the right tank for your site: whether it fits and holds your load, how it ships, and the one detail people get wrong.
Does it work for your application?
This is a Norwesco vertical tank rated to a 1.5 specific gravity, which tells you how dense a liquid it will carry. Plain water has a specific gravity of 1.0, so for water storage you have full headroom: filled with water this tank weighs about 25,020 pounds, while the 1.5 specific gravity rating means it can carry contents up to 37,530 pounds. That gap is your margin for liquids heavier than water. The footprint is 102 inches in diameter and the tank stands 93 inches tall, so at roughly 8 feet you need to plan overhead clearance for the fill line, vent, and dome access when siting under a roof or canopy. Use the Tank Sizing Calculator and the Tank Sizing Guide to confirm 3,000 gallons matches your draw-down and refill cycle before you commit to a footprint this size.
Site prep and the mistake to avoid
The mistake people make on a tank this size is underbuilding the foundation. At roughly 25,020 pounds full of water on a 102-inch diameter footprint, this tank concentrates real load onto whatever it sits on. It needs a level, fully supporting pad rated for the full water weight — not gravel that can shift or a partial ring. Our guide on concrete pad sizing for above-ground polyethylene tanks walks through the ACI 360R-10 framework for getting this right the first time. An uneven base is the fastest way to stress a vertical storage tank.
Common uses for a 3,000-gallon vertical tank
A 3,000-gallon black vertical storage tank sits in a useful range for several jobs. For rural and remote fire protection, see our breakdown of fire-water reservoir tank design and NFPA 22 sizing discipline. If you are aggregating grey-water, rainwater, or HVAC condensate, our guide to industrial water reuse tank topology covers quality-banded storage trains. For harvesting setups, review first-flush diverter sizing. Check the technical drawing on this page for fitting and dimensional detail.
Freight and how to order
This Norwesco tank ships by LTL freight, quoted live to your ZIP code. It ships from the nearest Norwesco plant to keep your freight as low as possible — Texas, central, and eastern orders typically ship from Fairfield, TX, while western orders ship from Hanford, CA. Because LTL cost depends on distance and destination, run your ZIP through the Freight Cost Estimator for a real number before you buy, or call 866-418-1777 and we will quote it for you and help confirm this tank is the right fit for your site.
