Storing water is necessary in many industries, especially during this time of intermittent supply and water restrictions. Due to many options, the right storage is difficult to find. Simon Cotton, owner of Silver Solutions and Water Bladders, offers a unique solution to help businesses with their water storage needs.

A water bladder is a reinforced PVC “sack” that can be used to store and transport liquid, not just water. Water bladders can be used for the storage of wine, fertiliser, cane juice, blood, transformer oil, diesel, and other agricultural fluids. These bladders range from small custom sizes to 500 000 litres and are easier to transport than stationary tanks. For example, the dry weight of the 200 000-litre bladders is only 220 kg, and when folded they’re less than 1 m³ in circumference.

“The idea is convenience, no construction, no hassle, a long lifespan and basically just an easy setup, ensuring the bladder meets the exact needs of the job. All that is required is a clean, levelled out surface,” says Simon.

While traditional storage relies on set sizes, Water bladders can be completely customised. “One of our clients is a kennel association, and they wanted custom ‘ice’ bladders to help keep the dogs cool during shows. We can supply many sizes for virtually any need,” adds Simon.

The advantages of water bladders

Businesses that need storage solutions can rely on water bladders, because they have several advantages that make them an attractive option. Simon says, “When we talk cost, the price per litre is really low compared to other storage products. No construction costs to prepare (the bladders) are a big advantage, and in general larger bladders can come in under 35 cents a litre for total storage.”

Some of the bladders’ advantages are:

  • Zero sun penetration. The inner is completely black, ensuring the water does not heat up on sunny days – and because the water always sits against the inner, even when the tank is half empty, the temperature remains constant.
  • No algae growth. The environment inside the bladder is sterile and does not promote algae growth.
  • No evaporation.
  • Zero toxicity. As there is zero sun penetration, there is no plastic erosion.
  • Easily repairable, if needed.
  • Easy to connect to downpipes, boreholes or irrigation systems.
  • Can be supplied with fittings suitable for the correct connections to a variety of pipe sizes from 50 mm to 300 mm.

The product is manufactured in South Africa and comes with a 10-year warranty, as it offers long-term water storage. It comes with complete service and after-sales support.

“The relatively low weight of the water bladders make them easy to transport, and they can be delivered anywhere. We have clients from all over South Africa and Africa, with an agent in Perth, Australia, as well.”

The chemical resistance of the product ensures that different fluids are evenly spread for storage in PVC. Specialised materials such as TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) are exclusively used for petrol and diesel storage.

Practical use

Water bladders are used by multiple large companies such as Sasol, Coca-Cola and Sanlam, primarily as backup water supplies but can be adapted for various uses.

“In addition, in terms of smaller-scale use, the bladders are regularly employed by pool repair companies who pump the water into the bladder, repair the pool, and pump it back, saving water in the process. The scale is really from as small as needed to as large as needed. Multiple bladders on one site can be easily connected as well,” says Simon.

The company’s water bladders have been used in abattoirs to store and transport blood, and have been utilised as storage for companies that transport molasses. The customisable nature of the bladders allow them to be deployed for a variety of applications. Simon explains that Sanlam had a tunnel under their offices and requested a custom water bladder to be fitted in the tunnel: “We made a custom 20 m x 3 m bladder to fit into this space which they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to use as efficiently.”

Not only a storage solution

The other solutions the company offers are varied, such as dam liners for earth and concrete dams that have sprung leaks, and loose liners placed on top of dams to prevent evaporation.

“We have also developed an ‘instant dam’ option where the dam perimeter walls are made using water bladders, and once secured, sheets of HDPE liners are welded together and used in between the perimeter bladders. No other construction is required, such as mass excavations, soil removal and so on,” says Simon.

Simon concludes: “The easy-to-use and versatile bladders are a strong option for water storage, especially for custom needs where a traditional tank won’t cut it. Price is always an issue in life, as is lifespan, and our water bladders satisfy both of these needs.”

If you want to learn more about Water Bladders, or want to contact the team, visit https://waterbladders.co.za/