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Purpose of Water Storage Facilities

Water storage facilities come in many sizes and shapes. You may see large multimillion-gallon tanks on hilltops, smaller tanks atop towers and small storage tanks for use with wells in a rural setting. Water storage facilities allow the control and distribution of water as needed and keep water safe and clean for public consumption.

  1. Water Storage Facilities

    • In most American towns and cities water undergoes treatment at a public water treatment facility and is then distributed to water storage facilities. The distribution system commonly consists of multiple multimillion-gallon tanks placed in strategic locations to ensure continual delivery of water to the public. The tanks usually sit on high hills or on tall towers and feed into a complex system of lines that provide water to individual residences. The federal Environmental Protection Agency sets guidelines for maintaining these systems while each state adjudicates and manages them.

    Water Storage Tanks

    • In a rural setting many homes choose to set up a 2,000 or more gallon tank above their home to supply the home with water. Using a storage tank above the home allows for a continual supply of water, even if the power goes out. When a storage tank sits above a home, it uses gravity to feed water into the home's distribution system. A storage tank also keeps the pump from running continually and saves electricity.

    Reservoirs

    • A water reservoir is a type of a water storage facility, albeit the water is untreated. Many public water systems have moved to creating watershed storage facilities to capture water runoff in the rainy season in an attempt to make the best use of water reserves. Water reservoirs also usually provide a dual purpose. A water reservoir provides a habitat for endangered or threatened species while at the same time allowing recreational activities such as fishing.

    Water Distribution Systems

    • To ensure the safety of water in a distribution system, a water treatment plant infuses the water distribution system with chlorine to prevent bacterial growth along with a series of polymers to coat the piping in the system. This keeps water clean and healthy for use. When you see water distribution employees releasing water out of a distribution system, they do this to ensure water quality. At the end of a distribution system, the water doesn't move and needs flushing periodically to prevent bacterial and algae growth.

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