Cistern Liners
Water Storage Tank Liners
Cistern liners are a cost-effective way to upgrade existing cistern tanks for safe, reliable water storage without the need to replace the entire tank. Instead of removing or rebuilding an aging cistern, installing a liner provides a fast, economical solution that extends the life of your tank and protects stored water from leaks, contamination, and structural deterioration. Each cistern liner is custom-built to meet the exact dimensions and specifications of your existing cistern tank, ensuring a perfect fit and watertight seal.
Available in a variety of materials—including potable water-safe fabrics—cistern liners are an ideal solution for agricultural, residential, commercial, and emergency water storage applications. Our liners are engineered for durability, chemical resistance, and long-term performance, helping you maintain safe water quality while saving significant time and replacement costs.
Cistern Tank Liner Features
- Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Elvaloy, PVC. Fabrics
- FDA compliant fabrics available for potable water
- Gray and Waste Water Storage options also.
Cistern Tank Liner Benefits
- Significant savings instead of replacing the tank.
- Protects cistern tanks and lengthens their lifeapan.
- Simple to install.
Cistern Tank Liner Details
Using cistern liners can help extend the lifespan of both new and existing tanks. Liners renew aging cistern tanks, eliminating the need for costly tank replacement. Cistern liners are available in fabrics approved for potable (drinking) water or in non-potable options, depending on your storage needs. Each liner is custom-sized to match your existing tank dimensions, ensuring a precise and watertight fit.
To recommend and manufacture the ideal cistern liner for your system, please provide the following information:
Tank Dimensions:
The length by width by height (L x W x H) dimensions for rectangular or square cisterns and the height by diameter (H x dia.) for circular units.
Surface of Your Cistern Tank
The length by width by height (L x W x H) dimensions for rectangular or square cisterns and the height by diameter (H x dia.) for circular units.
Piping, Hardware, or Access Restrictions
The length by width by height (L x W x H) dimensions for rectangular or square cisterns and the height by diameter (H x dia.) for circular units.
Cistern Tank Liner General Specifications
| Liner Materials | NSF 61 and FDA Approved Additional materials available on request. |
|---|---|
| Sizing | Built to fit your existing cisterns(L x W x H) or (H x diameter) |
| Cistern Shapes | Built to fit round, rectangular, square or uniquely shaped cistern units. |
Cistern Tank Liner Installation
Cistern tank liner installation methods can vary depending on your location, tank structure, and specific project requirements. In general, liners are installed either by using pre-existing fittings on the tank, securing exterior bands around excess liner fabric, or anchoring from inside the tank using the top opening.
Installation often includes the use of a plastic or steel band placed around the interior perimeter of the cistern tank. These bands, combined with gaskets and fastening hardware, securely attach the liner to the tank structure for a watertight seal. Depending on the surface material of your existing cistern, a protective geotextile layer may also be added between the cistern liner and the tank wall. This extra layer helps cushion the liner, reduces abrasion, and further prevents potential leaks over time.
Cistern Tank Liner Installation Step-By-Step
- Measure 1 inch from each edge of the battening section. Drill through the cistern wall, geotextile, and battening. Measure every 12 inches between original drill points and drill the remaining holes. Remove and set aside the battening.
- Roll out the cistern liner and carefully place it inside the tank. Verify the liner is centered correctly and extends to the top edges of the tank. Smooth out the bottom corners and weigh them down with sandbags to prevent shifting.
- Hold the battening against the liner and tank wall. Mark each drill hole location directly on the liner. Remove the battening and drill through both the liner and cistern wall at the marked points.
- Fold the liner back and partially drive wedge anchors into the drilled holes using a hammer, ensuring bolts remain threaded onto the anchors.
- Stretch the gasket material tightly over the wedge anchors and hammer them through to secure the gasket to the tank wall. Ensure there is space left for Sikaflex application between the gasket and liner.
- Hammer the battening back over the liner and wedge anchors, applying even pressure to seal the Sikaflex into place. Secure the battening firmly by fastening nuts and washers onto the wedge anchors.
Wearing gloves, apply continuous small beads of Sikaflex underneath the gasket, around the wedge anchors, and along the full perimeter of the tank.
Repeat these steps for each section of battening until the liner is completely installed and secured.
Visit our Containment Liners page for other tank and industrial liner options.
Cistern Liners FAQs
That depends. If your cistern tank is treated to protect the water quality already, then a cistern tank liner may not be necessary. If you are planning to use the cistern tank to store potable (drinking) water, it is highly recommended that your tank be treated to safely store drinking water. Even so, you may want to install a tank liner also. Cistern tank liners protect your tank from damage and extend the life of the tank. When the cistern tank liner eventually needs to replaced, you simply replace the liner instead of the whole tank.
We recommend selecting the type of fabric for your cistern tank liner to match the type of liquid stored in the tank and they type of tank used. This is particularly important when storing potable (drinking quality) water. You don't want chemicals or pollutants to leech into your fresh water supply, and the liner will need to be rated for potable water storage to ensure safety.
We do carry a full line of water storage tanks, including flexible tanks, fiberglass tanks, poly tanks, and steel tanks. Call us!
