Sourcing a drinking water tank for a commercial or industrial site is a decision that outlasts the install. The manufacturer you pick shapes your regulatory compliance, your water quality and your maintenance costs for years. The strongest choice usually comes down to five things: approvals, liner materials, compliance evidence, range of flexibility and aftercare. Here is how to weigh each one.
Why Does WRAS Approval Matter When Choosing a Drinking Water Tank?
WRAS stands for the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme. Approval means the materials that touch the water have been tested and certified as safe for potable use, in line with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations. It should be the first filter any buyer applies, because a WRAS approved drinking water tank gives you documented proof rather than a marketing claim.
The testing behind that approval is BS6920, which checks whether a material has any effect on the water it contacts. This is the part that protects water quality across the life of the tank. Ask any manufacturer to show WRAS approval for the actual liner, not the tank in general, and to back it with the BS6920 test evidence.
What Materials Should You Look for in a Potable Water Tank?
The liner is the part in direct contact with your water, so it matters more than the shell around it. Across the market you will see liners made from butyl rubber, EPDM, and PVC. What counts is whether the material is food grade, non-toxic, and certified for drinking water use.
A quality potable water tank liner will be tested to BS6920 and approved under the UK Water Regulations Advisory Scheme. Our drinking water tanks use a grade of butyl rubber that is WRAS approved and BS6920 tested. It creates a completely impermeable seal, resists the chlorine used in sterilisation, and hold its strength from -30°C to +120°C. Before you compare suppliers on price, ask what the liner is made from and whether it is certified for potable water.
How Do You Know a Manufacturer Meets Drinking Water Storage Regulations?
Compliance is more than a logo on a website. The core framework is the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, supported by BS6700 for the design and installation of water supply systems and BS6920 for materials in contact with water. Beyond drinking water storage tank regulations, a credible manufacturer should also hold ISO 9001 for quality management and ISO 14001 for environmental management.
UK drinking water sets a high benchmark to work to, with the Drinking Water Inspectorate recording 99.97% compliance with drinking water standards in 2024. Use a short checklist when you assess a supplier:
- WRAS approval on the liner
- BS6920 test evidence
- ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification
- Clear reference to the water fittings regulations
Asking for these upfront makes it easy to compare suppliers on the things that matter most.
What Tank Sizes and Configurations Should a Manufacturer Offer?
Range matters because no two sites are the same. You want a manufacturer that matches capacity and footprint to your site rather than forcing a standard unit on you. Franklin Hodge supplies site assembled cylindrical potable tanks from 10m³ up to 5,000m³, so the storage suits the job rather than the other way round.
Site assembled tanks are a real advantage where access is tight, because the tank is built in position rather than craned in whole. For larger or restricted sites, a potable water storage system built to your capacity and layout is often the difference between a workable install and a costly compromise.
What Aftercare and Maintenance Support Should You Expect?
A tank is a long-term asset, so the relationship should not end at handover. Ask what happens across the tank’s life: warranty terms, inspection, liner repair and full refurbishment. The best manufacturers offer onsite liner repair using a heat and pressure process that restores the seal with minimal disruption, plus cold repair kits for remote or overseas sites.
Ongoing tank refurbishment services extend the life of the asset and protect your original investment. Regular tank surveys, including ROV and drone inspections, catch problems early before they affect water quality. A manufacturer that delivers a tank then disappears is a very different proposition from one that supports it for the long haul.
Choosing the Right Drinking Water Tank Manufacturer
The checklist is straightforward: WRAS approved liners tested to BS6920, ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001 accreditation, certificates you can verify, a flexible range of sizes, and genuine aftercare. Franklin Hodge meets every one of these, with WRAS approved butyl rubber and EPDM liners, site assembled cylindrical tanks from 10m³ to 5,000m³, and full survey and refurbishment support.
If you are specifying potable storage for a commercial, industrial or municipal site, our team can help you get the details right. Request a quote and we will come back to you.
