Below Ground Cistern Tanks

A septic tank is designed for human waste, both black water and gray water. Normally, a bio-additive is introduced into the tank that consumes the waste and the by-product is inert. French drains (pipes with holes in them) are attached to the tank and the clean inert fluid is discharged over a large surface area and absorbed by the soil. The nutrients in the discharge are actually beneficial to the plant life in the area.

A cistern tank is designed for below ground storage of potable (drinking) water. The resins used in a cistern tank are FDA approved for contact with products intended for human consumption, septic tanks are not. Cistern tanks are heavier duty than septic tanks as well, meaning they can be routinely filled and emptied without worrying about sidewall integrity. Septic tanks are designed to be full at all times. Cistern tanks can be used as septic tanks, but septic tanks should NOT be used as cistern tanks.

Yes, it is safe to store water in Peabody’s above ground water tanks and below ground cistern tanks shown on our website. The resin used to manufacture these tanks meets FDA specifications for safe storage of potable water.

NSF International, founded in 1944 as the National Sanitation Foundation, is known for the development of standards, product testing and certification services in the areas of public health, safety and protection of the environment. Norwesco was the first polyethylene tank producer to receive the NSF certification, where applicable, for our potable water tanks.

The NSF certification process is done on a plant by plant basis. We currently have select tanks that are considered NSF approved that ship from our Shawnee, OK; Tooele, UT; Washougal, WA, Hanford, CA and our Corona manufacturing plant. For further details, please contact Customer Service. The resin that we use to manufacture our above ground tanks is considered an NSF approved resin.

We recommend you bury your tank not more than 24″ deep. We have manhole extensions available in 15″ and 24″ lengths to allow for access to your tank buried below grade without having to dig a hole in the ground to get to it.

No. Our below-ground tanks are only designed for direct burial applications. We do have a wide range of above ground tanks available for above-ground applications, including holding tanks designed to slide under mobile office trailers.

Yes. This is important for two reasons; It helps in the ease of leveling the tank and even inter-rib support during installation and insures that no sharp rocks or other objects puncture the tank during installation.

With our standard duty septic tanks (yellow), the answer is yes. This helps stabilize the tank and keeps it from shifting during backfill and equalizes the pressure inside and outside the tank so it does not become deformed during installation. Filling a Bruiser or cistern with water while backfilling is recommended but not required.

We do not recommend installing a below ground tank in areas with a water table that is not at least 120″ below the surface. This will enable you to dig to the proper depth to install the tank in a dry hole and prevent the tank from floating up out of the ground over time.

Proper sizing of a septic or a cistern tank depends upon a number of factors. For septic tanks, average sewage flow is the most important consideration. Most states require a minimum septic capacity of 1000 gallons. For cistern tank sizing, you need to determine your home water use. A good website to research what size is best for you can be found at http://inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_Systems.php. For cistern tank sizing, consider the home water use calculator at http://apps.auroragov.org/WaterConservationCalculator/Default.aspx.

All of our tanks have been approved from coast to coast and even in some international locations. Ideal for rural locations, vacation homes, campgrounds, resorts and construction sites. Our cistern tanks are FDA approved for the safe storage of Potable water and will not impart a taste or odor to your water storage. They are compliant with FDA regulation 21CFR 177.150(c) 3.1 and 3.2.

There is no set distance that applies to all tanks or regions. Prior to installing any septic tank, you should check with your local sanitarian for specific lengths for the inlet and outlet tees.

In most state and county regulations or codes there is a direct correlation between the number of bedrooms and the size of the septic tank required. Please check with your local sanitarian or health department prior to purchasing any septic tank.

The installation instructions can be found under the edge of the lid.

The sand/gravel mixture we refer to can generically be called a “pea gravel” mixture. It should be 100% smaller than 1-1/2″ and approximately 50% smaller than 1/4″.