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Water Tank Leaks

By Erin Schmitt, media director/technical writer
for Pittsburg Tank & Tower Group

Several things can cause a leak – from cracked welds to holes from deterioration. There have even been instances
where people have fired shots at water tanks, puncturing the steel and causing it to leak. Water can also seep through the
base plate connected to the pipe system, as was the case with a 105-year-old tank.
Leaks can cause everything from water loss to tank loss in the most catastrophic cases. Any water loss is lost
HomeServe has acquired ServLine revenue for a water system. So, repairing a leak quickly and efficiently can help save money.

Tank owners can do little to guard against something like errant bullets – that’s more a job for the police – but the
owner/operator can make sure the tank is maintained and repaired in a timely fashion – drastically reducing the chance
Offering a solution for utilities to recapture lost revenue from customer of the tank deteriorating. If a leak is identified, the best thing an operator can do is contact professionals immediately to
water leaks, and protect customers from an unforeseen and potentially address it before the tank deteriorates too much.

costly expense from water loss. Tank operators should do thorough visual checks on tanks’ exteriors at least quarterly to determine if there are any
obvious signs of damage or weakening, according to NPFA 25 9.2.4.1. Professional inspectors should examine the tank as
soon as possible if there are any leaks or rust streaks caused by leaks. The tank should also be repaired immediately.
Leaks happen at inopportune times, though has there ever really a good time for a water tank to spring a leak? No.
A win-win for utilities and customers * However, if a tank begins leaking in the summer, which is usually peak water usage for most systems, it’s a bigger hassle
since more water is needed to cover the demand. Plus, taking a water tank offline for repairs would limit the water supply.
Tornados, earthquakes, and other natural disasters may cause structural damage to a storage tank. Severe winter
storms can freeze a tank and cause it to overflow. For instance, when cold weather causes a tank to freeze, the pressure on
Common Utility ServLine the tank changes. When this happens, metal appurtenances in the tank, like a ladder or hooks, can break free and rip a hole
through the steel.
Leak Policy steel will rust as it comes into contact with a mixture of air and water. A water tank has an abundance of water on the inside,
Although the weather and Mother Nature can cause leaks, most are the result of a lack of maintenance. Over time,
• Leak - $700 bill to customer
and its exterior is exposed to precipitation.
• Leak - $700 bill to customer • Average normal bill - $50 per month Sometimes, if the tank can’t be fixed for a while, the best thing to do is limit the amount of water stored for the time
• Average normal bill - $50 per month • 100% leak adjustment for customer being. For example, keeping about 10,000 gallons in a 100,000-gallon tank can help relieve pressure on the leak.
• 50% leak adjustment for customer • 100% of the water bill paid to utility Corrosion deteriorates the structural integrity of a tank. For the most part, leaks will start small. Sometimes it’s so
little it’s imperceptible or, if a leak is detected, it’s small enough that the tank operator uses a quick fix to patch the leak.
• 50% of the water bill written off by utility
• Leak cost above average bill - $650 Wooden wedges, bolts, and even a broomstick handle have plugged leaks. That acts as a bandage for leaks but does not
resolve the problem. Corrosion products can also help seal leaks.
• Leak cost above average bill - $650 • Customer pays utility - $50 (avg. bill only) “Any exterior corrosion, especially where metal loss is apparent, should be evaluated by a professional engineer
• Customer pays utility - $325 + $50 = $375 • ServLine pays utility - $650 ** familiar with the construction of water storage tanks,” according to AWWA Manual M42.
• Utility pays - $325 • Utility pays - $0 Solving the issue requires a professional to patch the hole with new steel, something that costs more money than
taking a wooden wedge and jamming it into a hole. Leaks can spring up anywhere, including underneath the tank. If that
happens, the best course of action may be to weld a new steel piece over the existing hole. Leaks can be fixed by plugging
Simple claims process: welds or patching or inserting plates. Which way is best depends on the severity of the leak and what the tank owner
desires.
A South Carolina tank without cathodic protection developed several holes throughout the steel. As each hole
• Customer receives bill
cropped up, the tank operator would deal with them on an individual basis, treating it with some quick fix or ignoring it
• Customer fixes leak altogether. By the time professionals evaluated the tank, a hole on the shelf’s top ring had grown so large that an adult
• Customer calls ServLine man could stick both of his hands through the opening. Three sheets of steel helped fix the hole and restore the steel to its
• ServLine pays overage from average bill directly to utility original thickness.

• Customer is completely satisfied! Steel thickness on a steel tank has a wide range. Inspectors should at least have a rough idea of what the steel
thickness is before beginning their inspections. If the tank operators have the original drawings for the tank, the inspectors
* Sample scenario can use those to compare current steel thickness readings against what it was like when built.
** ServLine Water Leak Protection covers up to the limit selected by the utility
WINTER 2021 S MRWA TODAY 43
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