Water tank and reservoir waterproofing are essential to prevent water leaking that can harm the safety and purity of water. Other factors like fungus growth or water pressure can severely affect your potable water tanks if they are not waterproofed correctly.

Sika premium quality products ensure you succeed in your projects, as they comply with the strict regulations of public water authorities.

Some industries like food and beverage rely on high performance of Sika waterproofing systems in their process water tanks. 

As global leaders, it's our duty to ensure hygiene, durability and resistance to exposure and stress conditions. 

 

Need technical assistance on waterproofing?

Sika waterproofing products used in potable water reservoirs and tanks comply with the strict regulations of SPAN (Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara / National Water Services Commission). The food and beverage industry relies on the high performance of Sika waterproofing systems in their process water tanks.

The waterproofing of reservoirs and tanks containing potable water must be:

  • Watertight over long periods
  • Easily maintainable
  • Food safe
  • Harmless to health
97% of the earth's water is saltwater stored mainly in oceans. Less than 3% is freshwater, and less than
1%
is liquid freshwater for people.¹
Around half of the global population, an estimated
4.2 billion
people, had access to safely managed sanitation services in 2020.²
More than
200 million
people spend over 30 minutes daily to get water from a safe water source, most of them are women and children.¹

Types of Water Reservoirs

Tanks
Illustration showing type of water tank reservoir above ground tank
Towers
Illustration showing type of water tank reservoir above ground tower
Tanks
Illustration showing type of water tank reservoir below ground tank
Caverns
Illustration showing type of water tank reservoir below ground cavern

Typical Exposures and Tips for Design

There are many factors that may affect the degradation of water tanks and structures in water treatment plants. By understanding the cause of damage, you can better know how to treat it, repair it and prevent it from long-term deterioration. These are the most common exposures affecting water storage areas.  

 
General Considerations for Design and Specification
  • Durability and water-tightness
  • Exposures, site conditions and ecology
  • Easily maintainable
  • Food safe and harmless to health
  • Compatibility of systems
  • Life cycle costing

System Solution Overview

Illustration of Sika bitumen and sheet membrane waterproofing on external below ground structure or water tank
Sika illustration of concrete water tank below grade with White Box concept waterproofing
Sika illustration of concrete water tank below grade with Sikalastic liquid applied waterproofing
Illustration of Sika waterproofing and concrete repair on external below ground structure or water tank

1. External Waterproofing

To keep drinking water in below-ground storage tanks clean, it has to be protected from groundwater entering the structure.

Fully-bonded polymeric sheet membrane

Sika Solutions

Hot air welding application of SikaProof® A+ fully bonded waterproofing membrane
Bituminous membrane

Sika Solutions

Man applying wet applied bitumen membrane adhesive with trowel on below-grade wall
Application of Sikaproof waterproofing membrane on below ground structure

2. Concrete Solutions

The Sika Watertight Concrete System offers a comprehensive solution for watertight structures. The system consists of concrete that has been specially modified with Sika admixtures to produce waterproof concrete and carefully selected waterstops for construction and movement joints. Watertight concrete structures can be designed to keep water in or out, or both.

Waterproofing admixture

Sika Solution

Concrete ready for spraying
Sika Combiflex waterproofing tape at water tank concrete

3. Internal Waterproofing and Protection

Sika provides a wide range of different waterproofing systems and solutions. The selection of the best system for a specific project depends on many factors, including local water conditions. The most suitable waterproofing system depends on the nature of the reservoir structure and the water quality.

Waterproofing mortars

Sika Solutions

Sika Sikalastic spray applied waterproofing for water tank construction with workers
Multi-layer epoxy resins

Sika Solutions

Sika Sikagard waterproofing for water tank construction with scaffolding and workers
Hot-spray membranes

Sika Solutions

Sika Sikalastic 840-ES spray applied waterproofing for water tank construction with worker on scaffolding

Sikalastic®-871 JW is a two part, elastic, 100% solids, very fast curing polyurea spray applied membrane especially designed for the use in potable water installations, reservoirs and fish distribution pools.

Sika spray applied blue waterproofing at water tank

4. Concrete Repair

When there is loss of water in reservoirs or tanks due to localized damage in the rigid waterproofing system, the appropriate repair must be done. It should be compatible with the waterproofing system, whether watertight concrete or lined with waterproofing mortar layers.

Concrete spalling

Sika Solutions

Man spraying mortar
Repair injection

Sika Solutions

Injection for crack sealing
Joint sealing

Sika Solution

Sikadur Combiflex waterproofing tape being applied with hot air welder at concrete joint in Glattbrugg, Switzerland
Waterproofing mortars

Sika Solutions

Sika Sikalastic spray applied waterproofing for water tank construction with workers
Injection for crack sealing

See Some of Sika's Past Potable Water Projects

Sika Combiflex waterproofing tape at water tank concrete
Image: Reservoir in Dupail, France: 900 m of Sikadur® Combiflex® SG Tapes
Sika Sikalastic spray applied waterproofing for water tank construction with workers
Image: Rapid refinery in Pengerang, Malaysia: Tank refurbishment with Sikalastic®-1 KMY (spray application), Sikadur® Combiflex® SG Tapes and Sikaflex® PRO-3
Sika Sikagard waterproofing for water tank construction with scaffolding and workers
Image: Desalinated potable water storage tank in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia: 90,000 m² of Sikafloor®-161, Sikagard® PW
Sika blue waterproofing for water tank with ladder in Oman
Image: Drinking water tank in Oman: Multi-layer - Sikafloor®-161, Sikagard ® PW in blue color
Sika Sikalastic 840-ES spray applied waterproofing for water tank construction with worker on scaffolding
Image: Basin in San Esteban, Spain: 800 m² of Sikafloor®-161 and Sikalastic ®-840 ES
Sika Sikalastic 840-ES spray applied blue waterproofing for water tank construction with worker
Image: Reservoir in Santa Cruz del Valle, Spain: 1,800 m² of Sikafloor®-161, Sikalastic®-840 ES
Sikaplan waterproofing membrane on water tower construction in Mexico
Image: Water tower in Leon, Mexico: Sikaplan® WT-4220
Sika blue waterproofing membrane on water tower foundation construction in Belgium
Image: Water tower in Beersel, Belgium: Sikaplan® WT-4220

¹Source: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC

²Source: UNICEF State of the World's Sanitation report 2020