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Elevated Tank Sizing Calculator

Work out elevated tank sizing instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Elevated Tank Sizing Calculator

An elevated tank does two jobs: it balances the difference between a steady pumping rate and the peak hour demand, and it provides static head for residual pressure. Capacity is the larger of one third of daily demand or the volume needed to cover the peak deficit, and tower height is set by the minimum residual pressure plus friction.

Formulas

Pumping rate

Pumping rate (L/s) = daily demand x 1000 / (pumping hours x 3600)

Balancing volume

Capacity = max(0.33 x daily demand, peak deficit sustained over the peak period)

Worked example

With the default values below, Elevated Tank Sizing Calculator returns Elevated Tank Capacity of 1,485.00. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Peak Hour Flowminimum 0 L/s
90 L/s
Pumping Hours Per Dayaccepts 0–24 hours
16 hours
Average Daily Demandminimum 0 m3/day
4,500 m3/day
Minimum Residual Pressure Headminimum 0 m
17 m

Results

Elevated Tank Capacity
1,485.00
Required Pumping Rate
78.125
Flow Deficit At Peak Hour
11.875
Static Head Required
22.00

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Pumping rate
  3. 3Balancing volume
  4. 4Elevated Tank Capacity= 1,485.00
  5. 5Required Pumping Rate= 78.125
  6. 6Flow Deficit At Peak Hour= 11.875
  7. 7Static Head Required= 22.00

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 3 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why not pump directly to demand?

Variable-speed direct pumping is possible but leaves no buffer against power failure and requires pumps sized for peak hour. A tank allows smaller pumps running steadily at better efficiency plus emergency storage.

What determines tower height?

The minimum residual pressure at the critical consumer — commonly 17 metres in residential areas — plus friction losses to that point, plus the tank's own operating depth.

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