Galvanised steel tanks in Bradford

Harvesting Pennine rain

Sheds on farms and factory roofs across the district shed a large volume in a wet year. Stored in a steel tank, that water can wash down yards, parlours and vehicles or top up process systems, taking load off the mains. Because the tank stands above ground, it can be inspected, drained and reached for maintenance without opening up the ground.

Farms, factories and depots

Livestock farms in the Aire and Worth valleys use them for wash-down and stock water. Food and drink manufacturers on the industrial estates hold process water. Haulage and bus depots near the M606 and along the Aire corridor want a supply for vehicle washing. Cricket and sports clubs irrigating pitches through dry spells make up a smaller share.

For a farm, a tank sited uphill of the parlour or the wash area can feed it by gravity, saving a pump. For a factory, the tank often stands beside the building it serves, so the yard space it takes up is worth planning early.

Level first, then the rings

Bradford yards are rarely flat, so the pad matters most. It is poured or built by others to carry the full tank. We survey it for level and position, then build:

• Galvanised sheets bolted up in tiers to the capacity specified
• A fitted liner that keeps the water off every bolt and seam
• Pipe connections, an overflow and a level gauge sealed in
• Any ancillaries the specification lists

Picking the spot

Placement matters: close to the roof downpipes for harvested rain, beside the wash bay at a depot, at the top of a farmyard where gravity can do some of the work. We advise on capacity and position; the volume follows how much water you use and how much the roof can gather.

Commissioning

Filling happens in stages, so the structure and every fitting are checked as the load builds rather than all at once. The tank goes into service once it has held full. From an empty base to a working tank usually takes days.

Bolted construction also means the tank isn't permanent. It can be unbolted, moved and stood up again somewhere else, and some layouts allow extra capacity later, so mention it if your yard plan may change.

Galvanising stands up well to the damp Pennine air, and because the liner does the watertight work, a dent or scratch on the outside of the shell doesn't put the stored water at risk.