Concrete Water Tank Leaking

You can do on tank bottom what they are doing on roof.

http://www.london-flat-roofing.co.uk/EPDM-Rubber-Roofing/EPDM-Rubber-Roofing.htm

Yves,

Since you are a (very) distant relative, I would suggest lining your tank with a material such as is used for in ground swimming pools. Any competent pool company could custom fit this for you. You need a 'food grade' plastic for your potable water, and the supplier should be able to help you with this.

Hi Tippycanoe , PLease light my lantern on "the distant relative"???? Lining the tank , is not an option , and I should have mentioned that the tank has a concrete column in the centre, to support the concrete roof.... Thanks anyway for the thought....much appreciated . crede quod habes, et habes..... Rgds Yves

Hello Garth , Thanks for the links (x2) ...it is just what I needed.... Will give a go with Crommelin in WA ....also they both seems to fit the job ... Bst Rgds Yves

A couple of years ago, I encountered a problem water tank (above ground) that was dying of old age. Our solution was to fiberglass the inside of the tank- essentially building a new fiberglass tank using the old concrete tank as a mold. This stopped the leaks, and if the concrete tank continues to deteriorate, it can all slough off and we will still have a tank...

If the foundation of the tank is inadequate (as it would appear to be), the problem will ultimately involve more than just the floor.

There is another product on the market, out of Canada, called "Liquid Rubber", which is a spray on material that the company claims has been approved by all sorts of government agencies in Canada, US and other countries for use with potable water. Expensive, but maybe cheaper than building a fiberglass tank inside the old one.

Fibre glass inside !! that must have been a lot of fun,apart from an external air supply the fumes must have given your skin a bit of hammering even with a suction fan?

You might look into using an EPDM liner...though I don't recall if it comes in "food grade." Might search for "food" grade tank liner. Also, might line with (rigid) sheets of 1/8"-3/16" food grade polypropylene. It would have to have the corners and sides-to-bottom "welded."

When our concrete bird bath began leaking through cracks and fissures, it would empty itself in a few hours. I picked up a quart of concrete waterproofing paint at the local hardware store. That was about 5 years ago and the concrete still doesn't leak. I think as long as the structure is stable and fresh cracks are not developing, this could be a low cost solution. The water is potable for birds but you would need to verify its use for humans.

You can use an existing concrete tank that leaks (as most concrete does) as the form for lining the tank. If you spec a flexable liner it will help if the tank continues to settle.

A simple way is a couple of thick coats of chlorinated rubber paint. It is quite cheap (about the same as alkyd paints).

You need good ventilation of the tank as you do it.

Here in Australia, the xylene solvent needed to clean the brushes costs more than the paint or some cheap brushes. Throw the brush away after each coat.

As the coating is flexible, it will accommodate a limited amount of settlement.

This paint is used to coat swimming pools and is OK for use with potable water, unlike most epoxies.

It is prone to damage from mechanical abrasion for some time after it has dried, so wear (disposable) soft covers over your shoes and use soft shoes to avoid damage. A good solution is soft sneakers with a plastic bag taped over them.

Do the floor last.