Benefits of Above-Ground Tanks

1. Cost - Above ground tanks cost approximately 40% less than below ground tanks.  Especially in areas of Georgia with rocky soil or high water table, above ground tanks are worth extra consideration. Cost savings are due to:
   a.  Reduced Shipping Costs
   b.  Reduced Material Handling Costs - carried by hand or skid-steer on the jobsite, not a crane.
   c.  Reduced Sitework - pouring a concrete foundation vs. excavating.
   ​
2. Maintenance - With a properly functioning prefilter, neither tank requires much maintenance. Maybe every few years. In the past, both above and below ground tanks required confined space safety procedures. However, access hatches allowing egress through the liners are the next technological breakthrough for these tanks.
3. Pumping - With positive suction pressure, pumps run smoother and more efficiently. Pumps can be located inside a mechanical room, safe from the environment and eliminating the need to run high voltage electricity outdoors.

Challenges of Above-Ground Tanks

1. Freeze Protection - The biggest challenge with freeze protection is not the tank itself, but any piping with sitting water. The current generation of tanks solved that problem for the most part, with piping penetrations inside the tank.  The mass of water in the tank will freeze on the surface, but it will not damage the tank. Freeze protection in Georgia can be accomplished with smart recirculation, keeping initial costs low.
   
2. Aesthetics - The Great Debate among engineers: are the tanks something to hide or something to show?.  With a tank such as this in full view of passersby and customers, people will certainly know that the business owner is collecting rainwater.  As described inthis Freakanomics article,that might be very desirable indeed.
   
   By far the most common visual option is unpainted galvanized steel. Epoxy coating and urethane mastic is available.  For a different look, the exterior can be clad in wooden planks to simulate staves, or stone or brick.
3. Space - The best tactic for maximizing space is to size the tank for the usage, not expected rainfall. This also reduces the cost of the project. ​