Water storage tank manufacturer expands range

What do St Helena, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles have in common? Apart from being islands, they’re all home to Rainbow Tanks.

Quinton Coetzee, director of marketing and business operations at Rainbow Reservoirs, explains why: “These islands do not manufacture water tanks. They have to import them. With air freight and sea freight, cargo is charged by volume. A single 10 000 ℓ plastic tank occupies a huge equivalent volume – you are basically paying to ship air. Islands, therefore, prefer Rainbow Tanks that can be flat-packed and then assembled onsite – the holding capacity of the modular Rainbow Tanks that can fit into a container is much greater, by orders of magnitude than that of the plastic water tanks.”

Used in over 30 countries around the world, like Peru, the Philippines and Panama, Rainbow Tanks can be transported to any place with minimal difficulty.

“Concrete reservoirs require stone, cement and concrete mixers to be transported to site by road. Our tanks with a capacity below 400 000 ℓ do not need a concrete slab – they are simply erected on levelled ground on a sand pad and can be transported by a 4x4 vehicle. Where other reservoirs may take months to build, it takes a few days to install our tanks,” says Coetzee.

Premium tanks for remote sites

Rainbow Reservoirs manufactures its tanks’ walls and roofs from premium aluzinc steel. The aluminum-zinc coating Q is six times more anti-corrosive than a regular galvanised coating.

All the tank’s fittings – like roof trusses, nuts, bolts, and ladders – are galvanised for durability and a long lifespan.

“Many tanks have to be installed remotely – in the middle of the Kalahari Desert, on top of a mountain or on a beach – and it’s a huge inconvenience if the nuts do not thread properly or wall panels do not fit perfectly. We, therefore, have modern, automated machinery that manufactures precision components to ensure everything fits 100% correctly,” adds Coetzee.

These premium-quality reservoirs are manufactured in varying sizes – from 5 000 ℓ capacity to over 4 Mℓ capacity – and can be fabricated in any requested diameter and height. Included with each tank is a ladder, inspection hatch, in-/ outlet and overflow, while a scour drain, gutter system, level indicator or wind turbine ventilation fans are optional extras.

They are also fitted with different tank liners suited to various applications.

The company supplies tanks to municipalities, townships, residential estates, agriculture, the food and beverage industry, the hospitality sector, and mines.

“With a new mine, tanks for potable water are usually installed before anything else, as only then can people move on-site to build infrastructure. Tanks are also essential for a mine’s processing needs,” explains Coetzee.

Rainbow Reservoirs is a specialist in firefighting and hydrant tanks. Accredited by the Automated Sprinkler Inspection Bureau, they adhere to strict regulations for the proper design and installation of fire protection tanks.

Oasis Tanks

However, not all markets require a top of-the-range Rainbow Tank; therefore, Rainbow Reservoirs has applied its expertise in the manufacture of sectional steel water tanks to create the new Oasis Tanks product.

While the Rainbow Tank range is used in some of the biggest shopping malls as high-tech firefighting tanks, sprinkler and fire hydrant tanks, Coetzee explains: “A farmer may not require a tank of those rigid specifications to water crops. Consequently, we have developed a range of cost-effective, agricultural tanks adapted to the landscape, our harsh climate and specifically to the needs of our farmers.”

Rainbow Reservoirs retained the traditional corrugated aesthetic of farm tanks and make use of modern technology.

“Farmers are ever more conscious of water conservation and recycling. Furthermore, water used in micro-sprinkler systems must be free of impurities that may clog up irrigation systems. Our settling and filtration tanks are pivotal in this function.”

“Individuals and companies are starting to take ownership of their own water security by using tanks provided by Rainbow Reservoirs. We can no longer rely upon rainfall or local authorities for consistent or reliable water supply. Businesses are realising that they need a bulk water reserve for the continued running of their operations during municipal water outages or restrictions. It is imperative that we all do everything we can to save and conserve water,” he concludes.