• Lack of surface coating : A lack of protective coating leaves a tank exposed to destructive elements.
• Coating defects : The breakdown of a surface coating due to age, wear or improper application can cause localized corrosion. Accelerated pitting may occur if the breakdown causes an electrolytic action.
• High sulfur contents : General corrosion or pitting occurs when crude oil and high levels of sulfur mix with seawater because the combination forms acidic compounds and an active corrosion cell.
• Microorganisms : Storage tanks are exposed to a wide range of bacteria that produce corrosive acidic compounds.
• Water and humidity : Moisture from the wash water, poor drainage, slop tanks, leaks, and condensation causes oxidation, electrolytic corrosion, and microbial-influenced corrosion.
• Hot temperatures : High temperatures within an storage tank increase corrosion rates, promote bacterial growth, and encourage microbial-influenced corrosion.

• Accumulation of scale and sludge : Sludge or scale at the bottom of crude tanks may hide pitting and contain harmful microorganisms.
• Construction materials : Higher tensile steels manufactured using thermal-mechanical control processes (TMCP) are more susceptible to accelerated corrosion than those using different types of steel.
• Excessive crude oil washing : Crude oil sometimes causes a waxy, protective layer to form inside tanks. Exposure to different temperatures of seawater can wash away the protective layer, exposing the surface to oxygen, moisture, and salts.
• Poorly grounded electrical equipment : Currents flowing through steel because of the ineffective grounding of electrical equipment lead to electrolytic actions and pitting corrosion.
• Structural flexing : When a tank is under tensile stress, flexing can cause protective scale on surfaces to fall, exposing the metal to the environment.

Preventing Water Contamination

Potable, wastewater and raw water storage are the primary uses for industrial storage tanks. Interior and exterior tank linings and protective coatings prevent water contamination. This ensures that safe drinking water is always made available to local communities of all sizes across the country.

It also ensures that harmful contaminants aren’t introduced into local water systems including lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, and other bodies of water. Contaminants can harm our local ecosystem and wildlife, so it’s important to keep them out of our water systems as much as possible. The regulations for wastewater and potable water tank linings are slightly different in that the latter requires greater chemical resistance and the ability to withstand exposure to extreme temperatures, but the function is the same: to provide clean and safe water for drinking and other purposes.

Eliminating Environmental Concerns

Tank linings prevent chemicals, solvents, and other contaminants from entering into local water systems where they can cause serious harm to aquatic creatures and land animals that rely on them. Unprotected industrial tanks can pose a serious environmental threat. Hazardous chemical reactions can occur if certain elements come into contact with one another and this can have a detrimental environmental impact for which the facility operators are culpable. Salt spray, temperature fluctuations, and corrosion can all cause serious harm to local communities and wildlife. Tank linings are a cost-effective preventative solution and safety measure that all industrial processing facilities should have in place.

Cost-Effective Protective Coating Solution

Replacing old and damaged storage tanks can be costly. The cost of removing the old storage tank, transporting it to a different facility, then having the new tank delivered and installed can add up. It just makes sense​ to apply a protective tank lining and coating to minimize these types of hassles and expenditures over time.