PVC Water storage tanks?

[kirkman]

OK guys and galls who has made one how and where did you mount it, what length (4',5',6') / size?(4'',6",8") and how much water does it hold? How did you plum it, what fittings, and how do you fill it? Pic's would be nice if you have them! Did I ask enough questions?

Thanks~!
Jason

[halfdome, Danny]

More pictures in Madjacks album. Danny

[kirkman]

Thanks halfdome!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Alphacarina]

3 inch would be about a gallon for every 33 inches of pipe . . . . 4 inch would be about a gallon for every 18 inches of pipe and 6 inch would be about a gallon for every 8 inches

Don

[Sonetpro]

http://www.watertanks.com/calc.asp

[Kens]

I just made one . Mine is 4" white PVC 45" long U shaped. Holds exactly 5 gallons. I copied Madjacks. I had to put in a 3/8" check valve to keep the water from flowing back to the tank.

[Micro469]

I just made one . Mine is 4" white PVC 45" long U shaped. Holds exactly 5 gallons. I copied Madjacks. I had to put in a 3/8" check valve to keep the water from flowing back to the tank.

Isn't that white PVC like....Sewer pipe??????

[Dee Bee]

OK Here is a question for those of you in the know:

Does PVC gas off VOCs (Voiltile Organic Compounds)? In other words is PVC really safe for drinking water?

Dee Bee

[Micro469]

Nobody seems to use the black drain pipe... Is it ABS?... I wonder why>>>>

[packerz4]

Isn't that white PVC like....Sewer pipe??????

Actually it's sometimes both. If you look at the print strip it is rated for different stuff:

NSFpw = potable water applications compliant to not extract crap into your water (meets physical specs too) such as 73*F @ 180 PSI etc,

NSFdwv = drain waste vent, applications which is certified for physical attributes such as burst pressure, outer diameter, out of round etc, but would not (and frequently does not) pass chemical extraction testing. Don't use this for potable water as you could be extracting things into consumable water including some known carcinogens such as benzene.

Sometimes you will find polyethylene or polypropylene or nylon stuff (usually clear or white flexible stuff, sometimes reinforced with nylon thread in the outer layers etc) with a rating of NSF-51 or NSF-61, both are compliant for chemical extraction, but both have seperate ratings depending on temp of contents, and make up of contents (i.e. alcohol containing contents may adversely affect the extraction of NSF-51 tubing, but same stuff may not bother NSF-61) it all has to do with the parameters of the test.

Of course as others stated, all water holding tanks should be cleaned and sanitized regularly... 200ppm bleach will do it with a contact time of at least 60 seconds. Read the label on some unscented bleach... it should tell you how to mix correctly for 200 ppm. Remember more is not better, it's caustic.

ok, i'll quit rambling... but look at any PVC sch 40 pipes in your house, you'll see what i'm talking about with NSF-pw and NSF-dwv, some pvc is dual certified, some is just Drain Waste Vent.

[Alphacarina]

OK Here is a question for those of you in the know:

Does PVC gas off VOCs (Voiltile Organic Compounds)? In other words is PVC really safe for drinking water?

Lots of houses are plumbed with it

Don

[packerz4]

Nobody seems to use the black drain pipe... Is it ABS?... I wonder why>>>>

ABS is an industry drain waste vent pipe. It's used a lot in the mining industry. Because of the black colorant, it's recognized as a non-potable pipe in the industry. The colorant is where extraction gets tricky... many colorants, many ingredients etc.

depending on if it's cellular core, or not the UV ratings are always different too. the light green pipe is the same.

It is used as irrigation lines sometimes by some. Again, not tested for chemical extraction in potable water situations.

Physical parameters qualities tested.
Chemical extraction not tested.

tk

[packerz4]

OK Here is a question for those of you in the know:

Does PVC gas off VOCs (Voiltile Organic Compounds)? In other words is PVC really safe for drinking water?

Dee Bee

PVC = Poly Vinyl Chloride

If you use pipe certified by NSF International http://www.NSF.org with a statement in the print strip that says: "NSF-pw" or "NSF-61" or "NSF-51" you will be ok for potable water.

DWV pipe is not tested for chemical extraction, but only for physical performance. DO NOT USE PIPE LISTED ONLY TO DWV FOR POTABLE WATER.

You should see on the print strip NSF/ANSI 14 and/or 61 with an end use application of "pw" = Potable Water. It's possible to also see "wc" = well casing, and this too is ok for potable water, it just means it meets different performance or physical specs.

hope this helps.
tk

[packerz4]

FWIW: I've had (and used) one of these Valterra water tanks in my trailer for three years.

"VALTERRA Water Tank 6 Gallon

ABS plastic water tanks are made from lightweight, high-grade plastic polymers. ABS is tasteless, odorless, non-toxic, and completely algae-free. Fittings can be installed anywhere on the tank with ABS glue; three 3/8" FPT inserts molded on each end. 6 gallon tank measures 8" X 16" X 12". Price: $37.34

Except for the third eye I've begun to grow in my forehead, everything seems normal --- all evidence above to the contrary notwithstanding.

your absolutely right! i didn't clarify that in my post about ABS pipe. Several ABS materials are used for food contact and water contact applications. Generally however the black pipe stuff is DWV=drain waste vent.

thanks for pointing that out! i'd hate to mis-lead anyone.
tk

[kirkman]

TK,....the only marks on my pipe are. PVC DS MS ASTMD 279 PPFR 0105063M45

What do you think?