Underground Storage Tanks for Waste

03/06/26

“Why do people use underground storage tanks for waste?”

Waste is a massive problem for communities all over the world. Storing it above ground can take up space, cause public health problems during inclement and windy weather, emit perilous odors, and destroy visual aesthetics. So how can we use our engineering and planning mindsets to solve this? Well, what if we were to store waste underground? This can come in the form of Underground Storage Tanks for Waste. According to the U.S. EPA, underground storage tanks for waste are tanks and any underground piping system connected to the tank where at least ten percent of the combined volume is underground. Underground storage tanks for waste can address the aforementioned problems associated with surface-based waste management, and can store fluid waste more easily. However, waste managers must take extreme precaution with underground waste storage tanks because their structures can corrode or break and leak into the surrounding soil and groundwater, creating health crises. It’s best to choose long-lasting materials for building underground waste storage tanks.

Image credit: https://rivcoeh.org/