How to optimally secure your water tank

When your water storage tank is empty, it absolutely needs to be secured. As earlier said it is really important to have a proper foundation. Besides this, it is also very important to give good stability to the tank, especially in situations when there is no water in the tank. Wind can slightly move the tank, potentially causing damage to the liner or deforming the circular shape.

In many occasions the tank base is excavated for approximately 40 cm deep, but also many water tanks are installed directly on the concrete base. When installed on concrete, we always use tank base brackets. These brackets are L-shaped and their job is to join the concrete bottom with the erected metal tank wall at a 90 degree angle, creating a whole lot of extra support.

When installing a water tank, always fill the tank first before attaching the tank base brackets to the concrete. This allows the tank to settle first.

A cost effective, simpel but strong solution to cover your water tank

Your water tank is located outside and is year-round exposed to the elements. And thus, so is your stored water. Algae formation, evaporation, heatening of the water by UV radiation and dirt worsen the quality of your water and could eventually lead to malfunctioning of the irrigation system and plant loss. To maintain the quality of the stored water optimal it requires a cover that protects your water. 

A good all-rounder is the ENPI-float. Since it is available in any size it is also extremely suitable for water tanks with larger diameters. This smart and relatively new solution is made from polypropylene and it is covered with small, air-filled bubbles which give the cover a high degree of buoyancy.

The top layer of the cover is white, which reflects UV rays. This reduces heating of the water in areas with high levels of sunlight. Also in harsh climates the ENPI-float does a great job. Especially for larger tanks it can be a challenge to keep a covering system in place in bad weather. Due to the shape of the bubble, the ENPI-float creates a vacuum on the water so the cover sucks itself onto the water surface. When firmer anchoring is necessary; the ENPI-float can also be delivered with weighted bags for wind protection.

The ease of installation is great; centre poles or reinforcement rings are not necessary. Moreover, the product can be installed on empty or full silos. Installing an ENPI-float is a typical one man job.

Read more about our other types of covers.

Another great achievement

Quality and doing things better have always been priority within NPI. Sometimes this means that we apply even more procedures than advised by the different approval authorities.

In addition to purchasing only the highest quality of certified materials from our suppliers and having elaborated certificates from KIWA, ISO and AEO for our own processes, we are pleased to announce that we now have CE marking on the full waterstorage system. Making the quality even more visible!

The CE-marking is a clear indicator of a product’s compliance with EU legislation. With CE marking, it is declared that our products have been tested against all applicable EU legislation requiring CE marking and are in compliance with the health, safety, performance and environmental requirements relevant to our products. Another great achievement for NPI!

Let us introduce you the people behind our film and water storage solutions

In the spotlight! Romke: one of our longest-serving welding specialists! Romke joined NPI almost twenty years ago. He is highly skilled and within NPI known for his marvellous detailed connections and hot air welding. He strives to continuous improvement of his welding techniques and even after 20 years he manages to find out a new welding technique.

His technical understanding has also contributed to the development of a variety of tools and equipment. One of his merits is related to the development of the perforator for punching the holes for the Install+ system, our system for connecting the liner to the tank.

During the years Romke did many welding jobs on location, both in the Netherlands and across the border. One of the projects that stands out most is the welding job they carried out in England. Romke was part of a welding team that welded prefabricated film panels together for a basin for a riding stable of polo horses.

But above all, he is proud of his team and the great output they deliver. We could not agree more!

All about the first and very essential step in constructing a water tank

Preparing your site and base is one of the most important steps in installing a water tank. Remember that every liter of water is one kilogram of weight, so your metal silo easily amounts to tonnes of weight.

In our latest installation instruction we explain in detail the first and very essential step in the construction process: digging in the basin. However, we love to share just a little more on this topic. We set up a short Q&A to provide more in-depth information about how to prepare the site for your water tank.

Q: A clear X mark is visible in the centre. Why is that?
A: The tank needs to be built in a perfect circle. In order to do so, you just take a piece of rope and check. If it is not a perfect circle, pressure can build up to one side and the liner will appear not to fit on one side.

Q: The infographic shows the liner materials placed inside the tank. Why?
A: Placing the liner materials inside the tank avoids struggling to get a 500 kg liner over a tank wall of three meters high, once put up.

Q: I see clearly the suggestion to place the tank in an excavated area. Why?
A: This is for additional wind stability. When the tank is empty, the steel shell is vulnerable to wind. It would not be the first tank to be blown away.

Q: The instruction says the diameter of the construction has to measure 1 meter more than the diameter of the basin. Why?
A: This 1 meter creates required working space.

Q: I read the basin should be dug 1 meter from the wall of the plant/green house or approximately 1,5 meter from a ditch. Why is this?
A: This distance is needed to create working space. It also creates stability and security.

Q: The instruction says the pitch should be covered by a layer of sand of minimal 10 centimetres. Why?
A: This layer prevents sharp objects in the soil coming through, such as branches, stones etc. The sand layer also gives the liner some extra space to settle.

Q: A concrete foundation is recommended. Why?
A: Tanks must be placed on a very solid, even and levelled surface. Concrete is by far the most apt material for this.

Q: The manual sets out the bottom ring of the basin must have an extra, durable coating on the outside. Why?
A: The coating gives an extra protection to the bottom ring. The bottom ring is the point where ground and air meet each other and is this is always a vulnerable area.

This Q&A was set up on the basis of our brand new installation instructions. We found out that many steps in the instruction are the same as 20 years ago. Why? These construction steps work, and there is no point in changing a winning team.

But why are we doing the things the way we do them? This question has at the same time trigged continuous product and installation improvement. We changed minor things in the order of installation and found more convenient installing materials.

Besides, this question also made us reflect and realize it is good to explain certain installation methods. Sometimes we are blinded by experience.

Soon we will be back with more installation tips and tricks.

Safe and fresh water is becoming more and more scarce these days and therefore it is important to use and re-use your water. Either it concerns irrigation, process water, cleaning water, fish farming or drinking water.

As such, it is no coincidence that our tanks have grown enormously in popularity in recent years. Our modular systems have several important benefits, allowing you to quickly install large water storage capacities wherever you need them.

Whether it is on a mountain top, in a forest or even in the desert; you can bring easily our compact modular system to any remote location. In this way NPI enables growers to cultivate crops everywhere, providing a safe way to store irrigation water. With our modular steel tanks we also make clean and safe drinking water available, even in the world’s most remote places.

Why?

Our metal tanks are modular which means they consist of prefabricated sections such as the metal panels, the tank liner, protection fleece, the cover, accessoiries etc. These prefabricated sections can be assembled on site, making water, and therefore prosperity, available at the hardest to reach places.

This prefabricated package comprises a complete construction kit including all installation materials (excluding tools). The water silos have been designed in such a way that they can be built with only manpower and a few simple tools. There is no need of electricity.

Our metal tanks are made specific to your needs. This way our water tanks can be prefabricated to meet any height or diameter and with different roof styles. Due to this flexibility we are able to bring water and to maximize volume at areas where it otherwise would be difficult to reach large water storage capacities.

The compact size of the packets of our tanks make them extremely suitable for exporting them across the globe. Besides, especially for overseas export purposes, we have designed a short panel tank. In contrast to the standard panels, “short panel” tanks fit sideways in trucks and containers. This makes this tank type particularly suitable for shipping by sea container and thus to reach even the other side of the world.

NPI supplies local markets across the globe via an extensive dealer network. Our dealers are based in more than 60 countries worldwide, which means we are never far away.

The summer is coming to an end and autumn is just around the corner. The seasonal change implies some recommendations for handling a tensioned anti-algae cover at your water tank.

Algae are known for clogging up filters and driplines, leading to plant failure and extra maintenance. Our standard tensioned anti-algae cover is designed to reduce sunlight in the water and hence the growth of algae. This ensures clean filters and driplines releasing the right amount of water to your plants.

In autumn and wintertime the sun is getting lower, so algae do grow less. For outside installations this is the time to carefully check your tank cover. Dirt, debris (falling leaves), snow and large amounts of rain water can cause the cover to become impermeable and heavy, adding unwanted inward forces on the supporting steel structure of your tank.

The best option is to remove your anti-algae cover, clean it and store it. Place it back again in springtime.

Our tensioned anti-algae covers are made from 210 gr. woven polypropylene with a reinforced edge and stainless steel eyelets. The cover can easily be supported with PVC tubes. This cover is subsequently attached to the outside of the tank with special hooks and nylon cord. The primary purpose of the anti-algae cover is, as the name suggests, to prevent algae growth. It also prevents contamination of the tank contents with small objects and protects against water evaporation. The woven cover is water permeable.

The tensioned anti-algae covers are most suitable for tanks with a diameter of up to approx. 9 metres. For larger diameters, we recommend installing a reinforcement ring in the upper ring, combined with a centre pole. 

Let us introduce you the people behind our film and water storage solutions.

Meet Erik! Erik stepped into NPI’s backoffice in 1997. With a small detour to our logistics department, in 24 years he developped himself as technical sales consultant. And with his technical insight and his in-depth knowlegde of all sorts of films, he is the right man in the right place. He is (y)our man for advice on all kinds of film constructions.

Project management he enjoys most. Supervising from A to Z and being involved in all steps; from measuring and technical drawing to delivery. The list of projects on his name is long; ponds, basins, sludge depots and so on. This means Erik is on the road often, keeping in touch with customers and assisting at projects throughout the Netherlands.

The last years his boundaries are shifting, both literally and figuratively. Besides his ungoing film projects in the Netherlands, he started specializing in water storage solutions. He provides assistance at water storage projects abroad and visits various fairs all over the world, which means you might also bump into him in Mexico, India or Vietnam.

Erik is a real people person and enjoys nothing more than looking for solutions together with the costumer. He answers any customer’s request with the best film solution and result. Whether it concerns a request to fight the Japanese knot weed or to prevent gas release from contaminated soil.

To many more film and water storage solutions by Erik!

After 479 days of being stuck to the ground due to the Covid-19 virus, it appears that the world is opening up for travelling again. For me, as director water storage at NPI, 2020 started with a hectic period with visits to Greece, Turkey, France, Vietnam and Thailand. Then, the 12th of March, my last flight took place; from Moscow back to Holland…

We all know that the whole world and business travel came to a standstill. Now it is resuming slowly and although business travel might be a bit more mindful in the future, I am more than ready to visit our customers and projects again! We all have gotten used to conference calls, but this pandemic has proved to me that offline can never be fully replaced with online.

While we are waiting for larger international fairs to take place, Europe is becoming more accessible and I cannot wait for Asia, Russia and other destinations opening up again! Will we meet soon? Let me know!

Back in 1999 you would be amazed by the patience and skills of our workers. With great eye for detail, they manually welded hundreds of PVC eyelets in the hem of the liners. Why?

Because this was needed to connect the liner to the tank, using a piece of rope and hooks.

As this was very labour intensive, the PVC eyelets were replaced by stainless steel eyelets, saving time and energy. A semi-automated machine to place the eyelets in the liner was bought, ensuring a fast installation with high quality and consistency of the eyelets.

Pretty soon after this, the main liner material became ENPEX FPP. Although eyelets were ok to use, a new connection system was introduced: the Install+ system. By using a coloured band and ratchets in the liner, the customer benefits from a faster installation with great advantages:

This is just one example of product innovation at the NPI. Our business started in 1957 so you might understand a whole lot of products have strongly developed the last decades. We strive to turn ideas into innovations that benefit customers, the environment and of course the longevity of our water storage systems!