GRP Water Storage Tanks for Farms, Dairies, Irrigation, and Rural Sites
Water storage systems for agricultural operations where reliable supply, weather resistance, easy maintenance, and correct water duty separation are essential.
Tricel Water supplies GRP water storage tanks for livestock drinking water, dairy parlour washdown, irrigation, crop spraying, rainwater harvesting, farm food processing, and fire water storage. The existing agricultural page identifies Tricel GRP tanks as suitable for rural and farm environments, with options ranging from compact one-piece tanks to large sectional tanks for high-volume storage.
Key facts at a glance
Supply
Farms may depend on stored water for livestock, washdown, irrigation, and daily operations
Outdoor
Agricultural tanks may be exposed to weather, UV, and demanding rural conditions
Separate
Livestock, potable, washdown, irrigation, crop spraying, rainwater, and fire water uses should be clearly defined
Seasonal
Larger farms, dairies, and irrigation systems may require substantial storage capacity
WRAS
Rural sites benefit from tanks that are easy to inspect, clean, and maintain
4 types
Tricel lists one-piece GRP tanks, sectional GRP tanks, rainwater harvesting tanks, and fire water storage as agricultural options
01
Resilience infrastructure
Water storage for farms where supply affects daily operations
Agricultural sites need water for more than staff welfare. Stored water may support livestock drinking systems, dairy parlour cleaning, irrigation, crop spraying, yard washdown, farm food processing, and fire protection. These applications are different from each other, and tank specification should begin with the intended water duty.
A tank used for livestock water has different requirements from one used for crop spraying, rainwater harvesting, or fire reserve. Where potable water is required — for livestock drinking or food processing — the tank and fittings must be suitable for that duty. Where irrigation, washdown, or rainwater water is stored, those systems should be clearly separated from potable supplies.
GRP tanks are well suited to agricultural sites because they are corrosion-resistant, UV-stabilised, available in compact or high-capacity formats, and can be installed in barns, outbuildings, plant areas, or open rural locations.
The resilience argument
In agriculture, tank specification should be based on water duty, seasonal demand, site conditions, and maintenance access — not only nominal storage volume.
Poor specification can lead to inadequate supply for livestock or farm operations, insufficient stored water for cleaning or washdown, poor separation between potable and non-potable systems, tank capacity that does not match seasonal demand, and difficult access for inspection and maintenance.
02
Water storage duties
Agricultural water storage applications
Water storage requirements differ significantly across livestock, dairy, arable, horticultural, and processing operations. The dominant risks and specification priorities vary by water duty, site type, and seasonal demand profile.
GRP Tanks
Livestock drinking water
Livestock operations require dependable stored water to support animal welfare and day-to-day farm operations. The tank should be sized around animal numbers, refill rate, peak demand, and site layout.
Common specification considerations:
- Livestock type and herd or flock size
- Daily water demand
- Refill rate from mains, borehole, or other approved source
- Trough or drinker distribution
- Potable or livestock water requirements
- Frost protection and external exposure
- Easy inspection and cleaning access
GRP Tanks
Dairy parlour washdown and cleaning
Dairy farms often need water for washdown, cleaning, and hygiene-related operations. The Tricel agricultural page specifically lists dairy parlour washdown and cleaning as agricultural applications.
Common specification considerations:
- Washdown cycles
- Cleaning demand by milking schedule
- Separation from drinking water or chemical systems
- Drainage and yard layout
- Maintenance access
- Temperature and hygiene requirements where relevant
GRP Tanks
Irrigation and crop spraying
Arable, horticultural, and glasshouse operations may need water storage for irrigation, spraying, or seasonal crop management.
Common specification considerations:
- Seasonal water demand
- Required storage duration
- Pump and irrigation system requirements
- Rainwater harvesting integration
- Crop spraying water quality requirements
- Separation from potable or livestock water
- Outdoor installation and UV exposure
GRP Tanks
Rainwater harvesting and reuse
Agricultural sites may use stored rainwater for non-potable duties such as irrigation, yard cleaning, and some process uses where suitable. Rainwater systems should be clearly separated from potable water systems and designed for the intended use.
Common specification considerations:
- Catchment area and rainfall assumptions
- Intended non-potable uses
- Filtration and pre-treatment requirements
- Overflow and drainage provision
- Pump system requirements
- Clear separation from potable water
- Maintenance of screens, filters, and tank access points
GRP Tanks
Farm food processing
Some farms need water storage for processing, packing, cleaning, or food-related operations. These applications require particular attention to hygiene, potable water suitability, and cleaning access.
Common specification considerations:
- Potable water suitability where required
- Processing or washdown demand
- Cleaning access and hygiene management
- Separation from irrigation, livestock, or chemical storage
- Pump and pressure requirements
- Record keeping and maintenance responsibilities
GRP Tanks
Fire water storage for agricultural buildings
Large barns, storage sheds, processing buildings, and rural sites may need fire water storage depending on site risk and insurance or design requirements. Fire water should be assessed separately from normal farm water demand.
Common specification considerations:
- Required fire reserve volume
- Fire strategy and insurance requirements
- Pump or fire system connection
- Site access for emergency services
- External installation conditions
- Separation from everyday farm water use
03
Material selection
Why GRP is suitable for agricultural water storage
GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) has specific properties that make it suited to the demands of agricultural and rural sites. Tanks may be in barns, open yards, plant areas, or exposed outdoor locations — conditions that would cause corrosion and deterioration in steel or concrete over time.
GRP Tanks
Resistant to fertilisers, slurry, and rural weathering
Farm environments expose water tanks to fertiliser splash, slurry, animal waste, cleaning chemicals, and constant outdoor weathering — conditions that accelerate corrosion in steel. GRP is impervious to rust and unaffected by these exposures, avoiding the surface deterioration and particulate contamination that corroding steel introduces into livestock drinking water or irrigation supply.
GRP Tanks
UV-stabilised for unshaded outdoor installation
Agricultural tanks are routinely installed in open fields, farmyards, barns, and outbuildings with no shade or shelter. Tricel GRP tanks are UV-stabilised, maintaining structural integrity and surface quality in direct sunlight over the service life of the tank — without the recoating or corrosion treatment that steel requires in the same conditions.
GRP Tanks
Right-sized from livestock shed to large dairy operation
A small holding may need a 45-litre tank in a livestock shed. A large dairy farm may need a sectional GRP system holding hundreds of thousands of litres for cooling, washdown, and potable supply. Tricel supplies both formats — one-piece for compact farm buildings and sectional for high-volume rural storage — without requiring bespoke specification for standard applications.
GRP Tanks
Sized for irrigation peak demand and dairy cooling cycles
Irrigation schemes, dairy cooling systems, and large-scale agricultural processing draw significant volumes at specific times of day or season. Sectional GRP tanks can be specified to match these demand peaks — providing the stored reserve to sustain irrigation runs or cooling cycles even when mains refill rate is limited in rural locations.
GRP Tanks
Practical for remote farms without regular contractor access
Rural and agricultural sites often lack the contractor access that industrial or commercial sites take for granted. GRP tanks have no corrosion maintenance cycle — no coatings to inspect and renew, no rust patches to treat. On farms where specialist maintenance visits are costly and infrequent, this is a practical advantage over alternatives that require scheduled intervention.
GRP Tanks
Regulation 4(1)(a) approved for livestock and farm food processing
Where stored water is used for livestock drinking, food production, or farm food processing, the tank must be suitable for potable water contact under the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999. Tricel sectional GRP tanks carry KIWA Regulation 4(1)(a) approval — the accepted compliance route for potable water storage on agricultural and food processing sites.
04
Regulatory framework
UK compliance requirements for Agricultural and Rural Water Storage Systems
Agricultural water storage should be specified according to the intended use. Different water duties require different materials, separation arrangements, and maintenance responsibilities. The first question for any agricultural tank specification should be: what will this water be used for?
Where potable water is required, the tank and fittings must be suitable for drinking water use. Where rainwater harvesting, crop spraying, or washdown water is stored, those systems must be clearly separated from potable water supplies. Where fire water storage is required, it must be assessed and maintained separately from daily-use farm water.
Livestock drinking water
Where used for animal drinking water, the tank and fittings should be suitable for potable or livestock water duty. WRAS-certified materials are appropriate.
Dairy washdown
Separate from drinking water and chemical systems. Sized around milking and cleaning cycles. Access for inspection and drainage confirmed before specification.
Irrigation
Seasonal demand, often weather-dependent. May integrate with rainwater harvesting. Pump and distribution system requirements should be confirmed at specification stage.
Crop spraying water
Periodic operational demand. Water quality requirements depend on crop and chemical programme. Must be separated from potable, livestock, and other farm water systems.
Rainwater harvesting
Non-potable reuse for irrigation or yard duties. Requires filtration, overflow provision, and clear separation from potable supplies. Maintenance of screens and filters needed.
Farm food processing
Hygiene-sensitive and often potable. Confirm processing and washdown demand, and separate process, non-potable, and potable systems clearly with appropriate fittings and records.
Fire water storage
Dedicated reserve — must remain available for fire protection and must not be drawn down for general farm use. Assessed against site fire strategy and insurance requirements.
Rural site supply
Where mains supply is limited or unreliable, stored water may serve multiple non-potable duties. Confirm refill rate, storage duration, and duty separation before sizing.
Non-potable service water
Yard cleaning, vehicle washdown, and other service uses. Confirm separation from potable or livestock systems and review drainage and outlet positions before manufacture.
05
Capacity calculation
Tank sizing for agriculture and rural sites
Correct tank sizing should consider the intended water duty, livestock type and numbers, dairy washdown frequency, irrigation area and crop demand, seasonal variation, source supply and refill rate, crop spraying water volume, pump requirements, required storage duration, rainwater capture assumptions, outdoor or internal installation, maintenance and cleaning access, and fire reserve requirements.
Livestock, dairy, arable, and processing operations each require a different sizing approach. The table below sets out the dominant demand pattern and specification focus for each agricultural use type.
Practical sizing approach
|
Agricultural use
|
Demand pattern
|
Specification focus
|
|---|---|---|
|
Livestock drinking water
|
Daily demand linked to animal numbers and weather
|
Reliable supply, refill rate, frost protection
|
|
Dairy washdown
|
Regular peaks around milking and cleaning cycles
|
Washdown volume, hygiene, drainage
|
|
Irrigation
|
Seasonal demand, often weather dependent
|
Storage duration, pump capacity, rainwater reuse
|
|
Crop spraying
|
Periodic operational demand
|
Water quality, separation from potable systems
|
|
Farm food processing
|
Production-led and hygiene-sensitive
|
Potable suitability, cleaning access, records
|
|
Fire water storage
|
Reserved for emergency use
|
Dedicated reserve, access, fire system requirements
|
06
Base configuration options
Selecting the right GRP tank type for the farm
Agricultural installations range from a single tank in a livestock shed to large multi-compartment systems serving dairy farms, irrigation schemes, and farm food processing sites. The right format depends on volume, access, potable or non-potable duty, and whether the tank is outdoors, in a barn, or in a service building.
One-piece GRP tank
Profile
One-piece tanks are suited to smaller installations where the full tank can be transported and positioned without access issues.
Best suited for: Livestock sheds; small barns; mobile or temporary farm units; small-volume washdown or service water; rural sites with straightforward access.
Sectional GRP tank
Profile
Sectional tanks are suitable for larger storage volumes or locations where access restrictions make one-piece installation impractical.
Best suited for: Large-scale farms; dairy farms; irrigation systems; farm food processing sites; high-volume rural storage; barns or service areas with restricted access.
Rainwater harvesting tank
Rainwater
Profile
Rainwater harvesting tanks can support non-potable agricultural uses where water reuse is suitable.
Best suited for: Irrigation; yard washdown; non-potable farm service water; horticulture; sites seeking to reduce reliance on mains water for suitable non-potable duties.
Fire water storage tank
Fire
Profile
Fire water storage should be specified around the site fire strategy, insurance requirements, and fire protection system needs.
Best suited for: Agricultural fire protection; large barns; storage sheds; farm processing buildings; remote sites where immediate water availability may be limited.
07
By facility type
Design considerations by agricultural segment
Each agricultural segment presents a different combination of risks and specification priorities. The following cards set out the main risks and recommended specification priorities for the five principal segments covered by this guide.
Livestock farms
Main risks
- Insufficient supply during high-demand periods or hot weather
- Frost exposure affecting pipework or stored water access
- Poor maintenance access in remote or barn locations
- Contamination risk if potable and non-potable systems are not separated
Specification priorities
- Confirm herd or flock demand and seasonal variation
- Size around refill rate and storage duration
- Protect exposed pipework and fittings against frost
- Provide inspection and cleaning access
- Separate livestock water from chemical or non-potable systems
Dairy farms
Main risks
- Washdown demand exceeding storage capacity
- Hygiene-sensitive operations disrupted by supply failure
- High daily use around milking cycles
- Downtime if water supply is disrupted during operations
Specification priorities
- Confirm milking and washdown cycles
Assess peak cleaning demand - Provide suitable tank access for inspection and cleaning
- Coordinate with pumps and washdown equipment
- Separate water duties clearly across the site
Arable and horticultural sites
Main risks
- Seasonal irrigation demand exceeding available storage
- Weather-dependent supply shortages during dry periods
- Poor integration between irrigation and rainwater harvesting
- Crop spraying water being confused with or drawn from other supplies
Specification priorities
- Size around seasonal demand and storage duration
- Confirm irrigation system and pump requirements
- Integrate rainwater harvesting where appropriate
- Separate crop spraying and potable systems
- Confirm installation location, UV exposure, and outdoor conditions
Farm food processing
Main risks
- Incorrect potable water specification causing compliance failure
- Poor cleaning access leading to hygiene risk
- Process interruption if water storage is undersized
- Absence of clear records for maintenance and hygiene audits
Specification priorities
- Specify potable-grade storage where required
- Confirm processing and washdown demand
- Provide inspection and cleaning access
- Separate process, non-potable, and potable systems
- Align with site hygiene procedures and records requirements
Rural estates and remote sites
Main risks
- Limited mains supply or refill rate
- Difficult delivery and installation access
- Exposure to weather
- Emergency water requirements
Specification priorities
- Confirm source supply and refill rate
- Select one-piece or sectional format based on access
- Consider insulation, frost protection, and external installation conditions
- Plan safe access for maintenance
- Separate fire reserve from general-use storage
08
Implementation
Installation in Agricultural and Rural Environments
Agricultural sites can have open yards, uneven access routes, existing barns, remote outbuildings, and external installation areas. Tank selection should consider not only capacity but also delivery access, foundation, exposure, pipework routes, maintenance access, and cleaning requirements.
Water duty
Confirm the intended use — livestock, potable, washdown, irrigation, crop spraying, rainwater, process water, or fire reserve — before selecting the tank
Foundation and floor loading
Confirm ground or floor loading capacity; ensure the base is level to within ±2 mm over the full footprint for sectional tanks
Frost protection
For external or poorly insulated barn installations, review pipework and fitting exposure — frost protection or insulation may be required to maintain supply in cold periods
Delivery and access route
Assess the route from the delivery point to the installation location — track, yard, gate, or barn access — before confirming the tank format
UV and weather exposure
Confirm whether the tank will be exposed to direct sunlight, rain, or frost — UV-stabilised GRP is recommended for outdoor or barn-edge installations
Maintenance access
Confirm that inspection hatches, drain connections, and side clearances are achievable at the intended installation location for the tank’s full service life
Agricultural applications
GRP Water Storage Across Farms, Dairies, and Rural Sites
Tricel Water supplies GRP cold water storage tanks for agricultural and rural projects across the UK, including livestock drinking systems, dairy washdown storage, irrigation schemes, rainwater harvesting, and fire water reserves for agricultural buildings. The team provides sizing guidance, duty-separation advice, and installation planning support for farm and rural projects of all scales.
WRAS
Certified GRP tanks meeting UK water regulations for potable water storage in agricultural use
09
Before you specify
Agriculture & Rural Site water storage specification checklist
Use this checklist before finalising the tank specification for a farm or rural site. Each item affects tank type, configuration, sizing, or the compliance and maintenance obligations of the person responsible for the water system.
Farm type and operating profile confirmed: livestock, dairy, arable, horticultural, poultry, or mixed
Potable or non-potable requirement established — WRAS-certified materials confirmed for potable and livestock drinking water
Daily and seasonal demand pattern documented, including peak periods and low-use intervals
Required storage duration assessed against refill rate and demand profile
Tank format selected: one-piece, sectional, rainwater harvesting, or fire water storage
UV and weather exposure assessed — UV-stabilised GRP confirmed for outdoor installations
Delivery and installation access route confirmed from the delivery point to the tank location
Separation between potable, livestock, non-potable, and fire water systems confirmed in the design
Intended water use confirmed: livestock drinking, potable supply, washdown, irrigation, crop spraying, rainwater reuse, food processing, fire reserve, or rural site supply
Livestock type and numbers, or irrigation area and crop demand, established for sizing purposes
Refill rate from mains, borehole, or harvested source confirmed
Pump and pressure system requirements confirmed
Internal or external installation location confirmed
Frost protection or insulation requirements reviewed for exposed or unheated locations
Foundation or support surface confirmed as level and adequately load-bearing
Inspection, cleaning, and maintenance access confirmed at the intended installation location
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are agricultural water storage tanks used for?
Agricultural water storage tanks can be used for livestock drinking water, dairy parlour washdown, irrigation, crop spraying, rainwater harvesting, farm food processing, rural site water supply, and fire water storage. Tricel’s agricultural page lists these as common agricultural applications.
Are GRP tanks suitable for farms?
Yes. GRP tanks are suitable for many farm and rural applications because they are corrosion-resistant, weather-resistant, available in one-piece and sectional formats, and suitable for a range of water storage duties. Final suitability depends on water use, location, capacity, and installation conditions.
Can GRP tanks store water for livestock?
Yes, GRP tanks can be used for livestock drinking water where the tank and fittings are suitable for the intended water duty. Tricel’s agricultural page states that its WRAS-certified GRP tanks are suitable for potable water for livestock and agricultural use.
What type of tank is best for a dairy farm?
Dairy farms may use sectional GRP tanks where larger storage volumes are needed for washdown, cleaning, and daily operations. Smaller dairy or service applications may suit one-piece tanks if access and capacity requirements allow.
Can farms use rainwater harvesting tanks?
Yes. Rainwater harvesting tanks can support non-potable agricultural uses such as irrigation, yard washdown, and some service water duties where suitable. The system should be designed with appropriate filtration, overflow, separation from potable systems, and maintenance access.
Should fire water storage be separate from normal farm water use?
Yes. Fire water storage should be assessed separately from normal livestock, washdown, irrigation, or potable water use. Where a dedicated fire reserve is required, it should remain available for fire protection duties.
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This guide is provided for general guidance and information purposes only. It does not constitute engineering advice and should not be relied upon as the sole basis for design decisions. © 2026 Tricel Water. All rights reserved.
