Galvanised steel tanks around the New Forest

Who uses them here

The demand is on working land around the open Forest: dairy and livestock farms in the Avon valley that need wash-down water, nurseries and growers between Ringwood and Christchurch, and equestrian yards across the district. Commercial and light industrial sites around Totton and the Waterside can use the same tank for harvested roof water or process water.

Inside the National Park a large tank is a visible structure, so the planning authority may have a view on its size, siting or screening. Consent is the client's to obtain; we build the tank that has been approved.

A tank instead of a dug reservoir

Digging a reservoir in this part of Hampshire means spoil to move, sandy banks to stabilise and, in many places, a high water table to work around. On land close to protected heath and mire it can also raise questions that a farm would rather avoid. A steel tank sits on a slab, needs no excavation beyond the base, and can be unbolted and taken away if the farm's needs change.

The water also stays cleaner. A covered or fenced tank keeps leaf litter, livestock and wildlife out, which suits wash-down, horticulture and any use where the water is pumped through fine nozzles or filters.

Before we arrive

The tank stands on a level base that someone else builds to bear it when full, usually a concrete slab or engineered pad. On soft valley ground the base design matters, so it is worth getting it right early. We give capacity and siting guidance before ordering, then check the level and set out the ring on the finished base.

Access is the other thing to plan. Panels arrive on a lorry, and some Forest lanes and yard gateways are narrow. Tell us the route and we will arrange the delivery to suit.

Assembly to commissioning

We stand the first course of galvanised panels on the base and bolt each further ring on top until the tank holds its design volume. The liner that goes in next carries the water by itself, independent of the steel shell.

Inlet, outlet, overflow and a level indicator are sealed through the liner, then we fill in stages to check everything under load before the tank is handed over. Our crews travel from Tamworth, and a typical tank goes from bare base to commissioned in days.

• Base check and setting out
• Panel assembly, ring by ring
• Internal liner fitted
• Pipework and level indication
• Staged fill and handover