Large poly water storage tank question-

[roadhunter]

The little "common sense" is don't get into a situation that someone can't get you out of. Confined space is dangerous. Even a tank laying on the side will require someone to enter to get you. That puts them in jeopardy too. There are many things that can create a killing atmosphere. Yeast in a beer vat makes CO2, Enough to kill.

Here's man killed in the open ... Coroner: Gas fumes killed Wisconsin farmer; death accidental - WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and Sports

Did you bother to read the link you used? It's not even remotely similar to anything we are talking about IMO. A tractor that disturbed the crust on a huge manure pit is nothing like entering a 1,000 water tank.

If you choose to believe that entering a little 1,000 gallon water tank that is laying on it's side and has never had anything but water in it is extremely dangerous and should require confined space training and a full crew of extraction equipment and air monitoring so be it. I look at it much differently.

 

[ArlyA]

Well gee, I spent a few years in the water tower refurbishing business. Did some penstock work and other water tanks as well. We did not test them before entering.......

 

[roadhunter]

Well gee, I spent a few years in the water tower refurbishing business. Did some penstock work and other water tanks as well. We did not test them before entering.......

Get ready. Another internet know it all will be around to tell you about Darwin and how stupid you are. LOL

Asphyxiation from water fumes is really dangerous you know.

 

[roadhunter]

Let's put this in perspective before you spend a week doing OSHA training, purchase a air monitor, calibrator, extraction equipment, and hire a 4 man crew to monitor the whole thing.

I think some of you may be under he impression this is a large tank. Here is an example of a little 1000 gallon tank. Note it is 65" tall and 72" in diameter.
1 Gallon Vertical Plastic Storage Tank Custom Roto 1VT

 

[ArlyA]

OK, The penstock was 22' diameter and the surge tanks were much, much larger. Like 150' tall and 100' wide. I can't find there actual size. City water towers are of course are a bit smaller. Below is the dam I worked on. Nonetheless, clean water tanks tends to be rather safe to be in. YRMV!

Fort Randall Dam, Pickstown, SD

 

[Wagtail]

Let's put this in perspective before you spend a week doing OSHA training, purchase a air monitor, calibrator, extraction equipment, and hire a 4 man crew to monitor the whole thing.

I think some of you may be under he impression this is a large tank. Here is an example of a little 1000 gallon tank. Note it is 65" tall and 72" in diameter.
1 Gallon Vertical Plastic Storage Tank Custom Roto 1VT

Which is not what I suggested. Not knowing the reason for needing to clean the tank I'll use my own situation as an example. It's a 14,500ltr rainwater tank, fed from my roof. Contaminants would be leaf/seed litter, dirt and bird/possum 'droppings' as a sediment. To me, that equals a recipe (over a few years) for an ecosystem = waste gasses.

My suggestion was and is to drain the tank, blow the present air out with a leaf blower and then have the local fire brigade gas-test for the presence of anything nasty.

If all is OK, you can enter the tank BUT do not do it alone... have someone else present to at least watch you whilst you're in there. Tie a bowline 'extraction' rope around you in case you get into any trouble. Cleaning the sludge out is going to stir up the sediment = more gas release so have that leaf blower handy to the outside 'helper'.

Anything less is equivalent to "Hold my beer and watch this!"

 

[roadhunter]

Which is not what I suggested. Not knowing the reason for needing to clean the tank I'll use my own situation as an example. It's a 14,500ltr rainwater tank, fed from my roof. Contaminants would be leaf/seed litter, dirt and bird/possum 'droppings' as a sediment. To me, that equals a recipe (over a few years) for an ecosystem = waste gasses.

My suggestion was and is to drain the tank, blow the present air out with a leaf blower and then have the local fire brigade gas-test for the presence of anything nasty.

If all is OK, you can enter the tank BUT do not do it alone... have someone else present to at least watch you whilst you're in there. Tie a bowline 'extraction' rope around you in case you get into any trouble. Cleaning the sludge out is going to stir up the sediment = more gas release so have that leaf blower handy to the outside 'helper'.

Anything less is equivalent to "Hold my beer and watch this!"

I was not addressing you. That's why I didn't' quote your post. :thumbsup:

Other suggested such precautions. That is why I brought it up.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion and I won't knock you for it but claiming anyone else taking less precaution is having a "Hold my beer moment" is ridiculous. This tank is 1,00 gallons, not 14, 000.

 

[Wagtail]

I was not addressing you. That's why I didn't' quote your post. :thumbsup:

Other suggested such precautions. That is why I brought it up.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion and I won't knock you for it but claiming anyone else taking less precaution is having a "Hold my beer moment" is ridiculous. This tank is 1,00 gallons, not 14, 000.

Apologies, Mate.

I've gone back and re-read the OP... 1000 (US)gal. is a very small tank. I've got a 5000ltr. tank off of my shed and his would be smaller than that. There's no way that a normal sized adult would fit through the access cover (port-hole size).

So you are correct in advising not going overboard with the OH&S precautions. Just sensible stuff is required.

 

[newbury]

Apologies, Mate.

I've gone back and re-read the OP... 1000 (US)gal. is a very small tank. I've got a 5000ltr. tank off of my shed and his would be smaller than that. There's no way that a normal sized adult would fit through the access cover (port-hole size).

So you are correct in advising not going overboard with the OH&S precautions. Just sensible stuff is required.

Now you've done it!

There was a perfect pitched battle going on between the "Safety At All Costs" crew and the "Git' er done" faction and you bring up the ORIGINAL POST from August 2007!

Been looking at the 1000 gallon or so poly water storage tanks for my mountain property. We have no water on the land except for a spring which hasn't run in months since the area is in extreme drought conditions. My plan is to fill the tank when we do have water to have it available during such periods.
So my question is- I notice most of the tanks have a roughly 16" opening they call a "manway". Are they serious? Can an average to large guy actually fit through an opening that size to clean the tank for example?
Seems like all the tanks I've looked into at Tractor Supply have junk in them I'd want out before use.

Cleaning the 1,000 gallons storage by getting inside it would be very dangerous, if not impossible. Just use the "manway" to reach inside with a pressure washer wand.

And hopefully the problem has been taken care of in the last 9 years.

 

[777777]

we have a 3000 gallon cement cistern under our garage that we periodically get cleaned. Cistern is approx 5-6' tall and 12x25. Dimensions approximate. Cistern is for potable water. Access to cistern is thru a hole in the top covered by a steel cover. There is also a 3" hole in the side near the the top edge thru which potable water is pumped into cistern. Typically, the cleaning guy shows up by himself and does the whole job by himself. Will inspect, clean, vacuum the tank of residue, leave report on cistern condition and then call our water guy to come and fill it up. Job is not something that I would care to do but also never gave much thought to him being there by himself. Now, not so sure it is safe.