Tank lining and coatings
Water tank coatings
Water tank coatings for the inside and outside of water storage tanks and towers. Epoxy linings that protect the tank and the water, and exterior coatings that keep rust off.
Overview
Two jobs on every water tank
Water is hard on steel. Inside a tank it never lets up, and outside, the shell takes sun, rain, and temperature swings. So water tank painting is really two jobs: a lining that protects the tank and the water it holds, and an exterior coating that protects the tank from the weather.
Water tank linings
Epoxy is the usual lining for a water tank. It’s a two-part coating, mixed on site, that cures to a hard, plastic-like film and keeps water off the steel. It’s durable, easy to clean, and low in volatility, which keeps maintenance down. A water tank epoxy coating only performs if the mix, the timing, and the thickness are right, so our crews mix on site and check film thickness as they go.
Exterior coatings for water tanks
Outside, the job is corrosion and weather. Rust-inhibiting primer goes on bare steel, then epoxy with a UV-protective polyurethane topcoat, or an acrylic or elastomeric finish, depending on the tank and the site. See exterior tank coatings for more.
The Twin Oaks backwash tank
At the Twin Oaks Water Treatment Plant, we lined a steel backwash tank and painted its exterior. The tank was drained and blasted. The floor and sides went to SSPC-SP7 to take off the old coating, and the rusted areas went to SSPC-SP10 near-white. The roof and supports were hand tool cleaned and spot repaired. Then the client-specified lining went on at 8 to 14 mils.
Planned around your water system
Most water tanks can’t come down for long. We plan the drain-down, prep, lining, and cure around your downtime window, and the estimate tells you when the tank goes back in service.
Projects
Water projects
Containment liningsTwin Oaks Water Treatment Plant – TankAt this massive water treatment facility, we painted the exterior of the BAC Backwash…
Interior liningCudahy tankTank interior blasted and lined.
Structural steel coatingsOrange County Water DistrictWe provided steel structural coatings for the Orange County Water Districts water catch…
Tank lining and coatings
More tank lining and coatings
- Containment and secondary containment tank coatings Linings for containment tanks and the spill areas around them.
- Exterior tank coatings Rust and weather protection for tank shells, roofs, and supports.
- Tank farm coatings and maintenance Coating programs for many tanks across large or remote sites.
- Confined space coatings Tank interiors, vaults, and water boxes, coated by trained crews.
Can you coat drinking water tanks?
Yes, with linings listed under NSF/ANSI 61 for contact with drinking water. At Twin Oaks, a drinking water tank, the client specified NSF/ANSI 61 approved paint.
What is the best coating for a water tank?
For the inside, usually a two-part epoxy lining. It cures hard and smooth, keeps water off the steel, and is easy to clean. For the outside, epoxy with a polyurethane topcoat, or an acrylic or elastomeric finish. The exact system depends on the tank, the water, and the spec.
Can you fix a water tank lining that’s failing?
Yes. The old lining comes off during prep, rusted areas are repaired, and a new lining goes on. At Twin Oaks, the old coating was blasted off the floor and sides completely before the new lining went in.
Do you paint water towers?
Yes. An elevated tank gets the same lining and exterior work as a ground tank, with the access planned at the site visit.