The Norwesco 5000 Gallon Black Vertical Storage Tank (SKU 40164B) is a 5,000-gallon polyethylene vertical tank built for high-volume bulk water storage, where a single large reservoir beats a cluster of smaller ones. It stands 152 inches tall - roughly 12 feet 8 inches - on a 102 x 102 inch footprint (about 8 feet 6 inches square), so confirm overhead clearance, doorways, ceilings, and any bridge or overpass on the delivery route before the truck shows up. The black exterior blocks light to slow algae growth in stored water, making it a practical fit for fire-water reserves, rainwater capture, irrigation supply, and industrial process water. If you are searching for a Norwesco vertical storage tank in the 5000 gallon class, this is the workhorse size in that lineup.
Will it work for your site?
This vertical storage tank is rated to a specific gravity of 1.5, which means the wall is engineered for contents heavier than plain water. Full of water (specific gravity 1.0) it holds roughly 41,700 pounds of liquid; at its maximum rated 1.5 specific gravity the contents can reach about 62,550 pounds. Those numbers drive everything downstream: the foundation, the soil bearing, and the access route. A tank this size needs a level, fully supporting pad sized for the loaded weight, not the empty shell. Our guide on concrete pad sizing for above-ground polyethylene tanks walks through the ACI 360R-10 framework so the slab matches the load. If you are still confirming whether 5,000 gallons is the right volume, the Tank Sizing Calculator and Tank Sizing Guide help you size to actual demand rather than guesswork.
Common uses and matching your demand
At 5,000 gallons this tank is a frequent choice for rural and remote fire-water reservoirs, where the stored volume has to carry a site through a response window. If that is your application, read our fire-water reservoir design guide for NFPA 22 sizing discipline and cold-climate freeze protection before you commit to a single-tank reserve. For reuse and capture projects, our industrial water reuse topology guide and our rainwater harvesting and first-flush diverter guide cover how a large vertical tank fits into a banded storage train.
The mistake to avoid
The most common error on a tank this large is treating the 1.5 specific gravity rating as headroom for any liquid. The rating describes the density the wall is built to hold, not chemical compatibility; for water service it gives you a strong safety margin. If you are considering a denser or non-water fluid, do not assume the SG number alone clears it - confirm the chemistry against the resin first by calling 866-418-1777 so we can verify the fluid before you buy. The second mistake is undersizing the foundation: at over 62,000 pounds fully loaded at maximum rating, a pad that works for a small tank will not work here. Finally, check fitting and outlet placement against the technical drawing on this page before you trench plumbing, since relocating connections on a filled tank is not an option.
This tank ships LTL freight, quoted live to your ZIP, from the appropriate Norwesco shipping point - the company molds these tanks in California, Georgia, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Washington, and the origin closest to you is confirmed at quote time. Run your ZIP through the Freight Cost Estimator for a freight figure, or call 866-418-1777 and we will quote it with you and confirm the right shipping point for your location.
