Severe Drought and Collapsible Water Storage Tanks and Pillow Bladders


The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Drought Monitor has recently published information indicating that up to 95 percent of Texas is experiencing either "severe" or "exceptional" drought conditions this year. According to the National Weather Service, Texas experienced the hottest period (June through August 2011) on record in the U.S. In addition, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) forecasts that the Texas drought could become the worst on record and LCRA's Board of Directors decided on Sept. 21, 2011 to ask the state for permission to significantly curtail or cut off water for downstream agricultural use next year. Residential water supplies in the region will also be further impacted with water conservation regulations in Texas and other Western states, as weather service meteorologist Victor Murphy recently stated, "And probably some of the most widespread water restrictions, too."

The trends of a warming climate and well documented cyclical drought conditions that are predicted to continue to impact the Southern U.S. for the next decade may lead to even more severe drought scenarios, where access to reserves of clean water for household, agricultural and industrial use are further reduced. The ability to respond to severe drought conditions requires access to information and residents in drought stricken states should make note of the various products available to address emergency water shortages. Interstate Products, Inc. (IPI), the leading manufacturer of spill containment products and the preferred source for environmental solutions manufactures and distributes a wide variety of collapsible water storage tanks that are a key component of any rainwater harvesting system for industrial, agricultural and residential applications.

Around the world, many people rely on rainwater collection systems to meet most of their water needs, including household potable water, landscaping and agricultural uses. In particularly dryer regions of the U.S., even where most residents have access to a public water supply, both homeowners and businesses are now addressing the issues of drought related water shortages and mandatory water conservation laws by installing rainwater storage tank systems to meet non-potable water needs like landscape irrigation. There are a variety of options to consider when selecting a water storage tank. Many permanent storage tanks or cisterns are made from concrete, fiberglass, metal, polyethylene or other materials and can be located either above or below ground. In this article we will discuss rainwater harvesting systems that feature above ground, collapsible water storage tank solutions.

Rainwater capture and storage is still a primary method for collecting the water needed to meet both agricultural and potable water requirements. The most common types of water collection systems are designed to capture rainwater from roofs and transport the water through gutter systems and downspouts into water storage tanks where it can be safely stored until needed. Major components of a rainwater collection system are:

o Water catchment surface or collection areas like rooftops

o Water conveying systems including gutters and downspouts

o Water filtration devices such as first-flush and screening devices

o Water storage tanks or cisterns

o Water distribution systems for landscape or other use

Collapsible water storage tanks come in a wide variety of sizes. For residential use, common sizes range from 100, 500, 1,000 2,000 and 5,000 gallons. When deciding on the most appropriate size storage tank, variables to consider are water usage requirements, the local rainwater supply, water demand levels, the estimated length of anticipated drought periods, water collection surface areas available and the size of area available for installing a collapsible water storage tank.

Interstate Products manufactures a wide variety of water bladders for personal water storage, emergency relief situations and industrial or agricultural applications. Anytime there is a need for water storage, our portable, collapsible storage tanks and water bladders are ideal for use as part of a rainwater harvesting or general storage system. IPI's water bladders, water tanks and pillow tanks are flexible, collapsible and designed for durability and fast deployment. All of IPI's collapsible storage tanks are manufactured to the highest quality standards using a variety of materials that can be used to hold potable water and other non-potable liquids.

From our South Florida manufacturing facility, Interstate Products stocks an extensive variety of tank sizes, including 50,000, 25,000, 10,000, 5,000 2,000, 1,000, 500 and 100 gallon tanks. We also build custom sized potable water bladder tanks, chemical tanks; as well as tanks for bulk liquid transport, bilge slop storage and fuel storage to exact specifications. Our standard pillow tanks are available with many types of connections for water distribution. These containers are designed for land based operations, but can also be used on the decks of vessels. For use on rough terrain areas, IPI Ground Mats are water proof and available for under the bladder for protection from rocks and sharp objects.

As a leading multi-brand supplier of quality environmental, maintenance and safety product solutions, IPI also offers special services for emergency relief situations and military use. To learn more about Interstate Product's wide selection of stock and custom water storage and fuel storage tanks, portable spill berms, hazmat supplies, absorbents, fire rated buildings, drum containment pallets, cylinders and safety & security cabinets visit our online store at:
http://store.interstateproducts.com/all_tanks.htm

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