Communication Antennas on Water Storage Tanks

[JayHatCOB]

A couple of items:

1. Should communication / internet antennas be allowed on existing water storage tanks?
2. Is there any federal regulations prohibiting the installation of antennas on water storage tanks?
3. Does anyone know if AWWA or the EPA have thoughts or comments on this issue?

 

[BridgeSmith]

As long as it's structurally adequate and properly grounded for lightning strikes, what reason would there be to prohibit it?

 

[fel3]

I agree with HotRod10.

Over the years, I have designed more than a dozen water tanks (civil, not structural) and prepared feasibility studies to preliminary designs for about three dozen more, all in California. None of my tanks had antennas or provisions for adding antennas in the original design, but I have seen many tanks by others that have antennas. I did a Google search for //antennas on water tanks// and found lots of good information about adding antennas to water tanks, including a presentation at an AWWA conference (

https://www.paawwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/hoban.pdf).

So, putting antennas on water tanks is a common thing and there are good reasons behind it.

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"Is it the only lesson of history that mankind is unteachable?"
--Winston S. Churchill

 

[oldestguy]

An interesting advantage setting an antenna on a tank. Most antennas need a half wave length antenna. Half of that sits up where you can see it. The other "half' is the tank. It ideally is a ground. One of the best is an antenna mounted above a lake, the lake being a ground. So with a tank you bring that ground up so the thing can radiate better for distance.

 

[ashtree]

Some emerging issues with antennas on water tanks at least in this part of the world.

1) Nothing ever comes down from a water tower. What results is multi-generations of antennas and stuff. If you can, contractually require that when something is replaced the old one comes down.
2) Access to the top of the tower. With cable trays, mounting , stays , sat dishes and the like a water tower can be pretty cramped on top. It can make access to hatches and ladders etc for maintanance much more difficult.
3) Exposure of maintenance workers to high frequency radiation, or at least the fear of such exposure. Needs regular mapping of exposures.
4) Drilling of many mounting holes in tank walls that compromise structural integrity.
5) Access to tanks by persons who may not be concerned about water quality in the tank, particularly unsupervised /after hours.

Regards
Ashtree
"Any water can be made potable if you filter it through enough money"