Corrugated water tanks have been part of rural Australian living for as long as there has been a need to for reliable, clean water storage for drinking, livestock, crops and gardens. In the many decades since, innovation has led to many changes to these tanks, helping them better withstand the Australian climate.

Most rural water tanks now are put together on site, making transport easier, while advances in engineering and tank design have made them more durable, and requiring less maintenance.

Pioneer Water Tanks Pioneer V-LOCK® tank wall profile was specifically designed for the purpose of water storage with a tank liner, and therefore outperforms standard corrugated iron.

Corrugated Iron and the Australian Identity

From as early as the 1850’s, rural Australians began working with corrugated iron, a product that was durable enough to withstand Australian conditions, but also lightweight enough to transport to remote areas to build with, saving money and time on transport.

A far cry from the brick and stone structures in the capital cities, inheriting building styles from the British settlers who were building them, these corrugated iron structures became an icon of the Australian outback and rural way of life.

Over time the durable and versatile was used to fashion all sorts of structures, from homes to water tanks, sheds to town stores and even churches. For many years, despite being the world’s largest consumer of the product, Australia was forced to import all of its corrugated iron from Britain, before two local manufacturing facilities were built, greatly increasing supply, and helping reduce the cost even further.

Such is the impact that corrugated steel has had on the Australian identity, at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 there was a special segment during the opening ceremony dubbed “The Tin Symphony,” which featured a selection of song, dance and performance art, all centred around Corrugated Iron.

Advancements in Technology
Zincalume® Steel

What most people today would refer to as corrugated iron is more often than not Zincalume® Steel, a lightweight steel alloy manufactured by Bluescope Steel, and composed primarily of Zinc and Aluminium – hence the name.

While this steel still has the classic metallic silver finish, technological advances have made much stronger, but also lighter and more robust. The modern descendent of corrugated steel is much less likely to rust or corrode, and also much harder to damage.

Colorbond® Steel

For a long time, continued regular painting of galvanised iron – often with dangerous and toxic lead based paints – was the only way to keep it looking vibrant and aesthetically pleasing. Up until the 1950’s, when the Lithostrip Corporation and Pre Finish Metals – based out of Chicago in the United States – found a method of effectively bonding paint to a galvanised steel base.

By 1966, the first coil of Colorbond® Steel rolled off of a factory line in Australia, and was at the time available in six colours – all of which would maintain their vibrancy much longer than painted steel – and thus revolutionising the building industry in Australia.

Today, Colorbond® Steel is available in dozens of colours and can be used for almost every imaginable application, including entire homes, garden beds, sheds, and of course water tanks. Nine in ten new homes built in Australia feature some form of Colorbond® product.

Pioneer Water Tank Colours

Pioneer Water Tanks are available in a variety of Colorbond® colours, with both a standard and non-standard range, ensuring that your water tank meets your needs, and can seamlessly blend into any environment.

As well as the range of Colorbond® colours the tank is available in, all size water tanks from Pioneer are available in the traditional Zincalume® finish.

Poly Water Tanks

The main modern competitor to the steel water tank is a Poly Water Tank, or plastic tank. These water tanks are made from a food safe, bpa free, UV treated polyurethane material.

While Poly Water Tanks tend to be cheaper and lighter, and don’t always require a tank liner, this is only true up to a certain size.

Once your water storage needs start to climb above 50kl – which is the case for most rural homes – a steel water tank becomes more affordable, as the more water storage is required, the more poly tanks are needed, unlike steel tanks which can scale.

Environmentally Conscious Building Materials

Metal products have the highest rate of recycling or reuse in Australia, with 84% of all metals produced in the country being reused or recycled.

All Colorbond® and Zincalume® are 100% recyclable, meaning if they are not reused, they can be melted down and repurposed once they have reached the end of their service life.

The current versions of Zincalume® and Colorbond® have between 10 and 25 per cent less environmental impact than their previous iterations according to Environmental Resources Management.

Australian Made Corrugated Water Tanks

Pioneer Water Tanks have been making tanks in Australia for Australians for over 30 years, and with over 50 dealers across the country in the Pioneer Dealer Direct Network, the delivery and installation of these world class tanks is a breeze.

These dealers are also there to provide expert local support throughout the service life of your Pioneer Water Tank.

Pioneer Water Tanks is a completely Australian Owned and Operated company, with the support of dozens of family businesses across the country, who live in the communities they provide water storage to.

Talk to the Water Tank Experts

If you’re interested in having a steel water tank installed on your property, or have any further questions, call Pioneer Water Tanks on 1800 999 599. One of their experts will take the time to understand your needs and offer you knowledgeable advice on the best plan for your water storage solution.