Reliable water storage is not optional on much of the Whangarei district’s rural and coastal land, and the best water tank installation in Whangarei covers the whole job: levelling the base, setting the tank, connecting the inlet and overflow, and keeping the water clean afterwards. The companies below supply and fit concrete and polyethylene tanks, build tanks in place where a delivery truck cannot get in, and repair or clean the tank you already have. Wal’s Works and Kara Drainage work out of Whangarei itself, while Clarke Concrete travels south from Kerikeri for on-site builds.
1Wal’s Works
Wal’s Works is a Glenbervie earthmoving and water supply company that sells and installs concrete and Aqua polyethylene water tanks from 500 to 31,000 litres across the greater Whangarei area. Because the same crew runs the diggers, bobcats and tip trucks, the site is levelled and the tank is delivered and set as one job rather than being split between two contractors. Keith Whalley has owned and operated the business since 1984, and the team also cleans, sanitises and welds existing tanks.
Services
- Supply and installation of concrete water tanks
- Supply and installation of Aqua food grade polyethylene tanks from 500 to 31,000 litres
- Tank site levelling and preparation using their own diggers and tip trucks
- Tank cleaning and sanitising, including Anolyte treatment
- Leak welding and repairs on plastic tanks
Highlights
- Owned and operated by Keith Whalley since 1984, formerly trading as Wal’s Holes
- Seven trained machine operators on staff, with casual crew added when demand runs high
- Bought the first digger in Northland fitted with drilling and pole driving attachments, in 1988
- Aqua tanks carry a ten year warranty above ground and five years underground
- Tanks are vacuumed clean without being emptied, wasting only 500 to 1,000 litres
Location & Contact
Name: Wal’s Works
Address: 255 Ngunguru Road, Glenbervie, Whangarei
Phone: 09 437 3936
Website: walsholes.co.nz
2Kara Drainage
Kara Drainage is a certified drainlaying business working across Whangarei and the surrounding rural and coastal districts, with concrete and plastic water tanks listed alongside its septic, effluent and stormwater work. It was started in 2010 by Kerry Griffin, a certified drainlayer with more than 16 years in the trade, and its own photo gallery includes the installation of a new concrete water tank. As a Master Drainlayer, its clients also get the security of a Master Plumbers guarantee.
Services
- Water tanks, concrete and plastic
- Stormwater attenuation tanks
- Septic tank systems and effluent fields
- Sewer and stormwater drains, new work and repairs to existing lines
- Bio-filtration waste water treatment systems
Highlights
- Established in 2010 by certified drainlayer Kerry Griffin
- Master Drainlayer, so completed work carries a Master Plumbers guarantee
- Over 16 years of drainlaying experience behind every job
- Free no obligation quote with a free on-site visit to work through the requirements first
Location & Contact
Name: Kara Drainage
Address: Kara Road, Whangarei
Phone: 09 434 7897
Website: karadrainage.co.nz
3Woods Drainage
Woods Drainage is a certifying Whangārei drainlayer that has been laying drains and installing septic and waste water systems for more than twenty years, and it fits above ground and in ground water tanks with UV filtration alongside that work. Water tank installation is one of the job types listed on its own quote form, so tanks are a standing part of the service rather than an occasional extra. The team works with homeowners and local builders, and is a licensed installer of pressure sewer pumps for Whangarei District Council.
Services
- Above ground and in ground water tank installation
- UV filtration systems for tank water
- Septic and waste water system installation
- Stormwater and general residential drainage
- Drainage for new builds, including council sewer connections
Highlights
- Certifying drainlayer with over twenty years in drainlaying and septic work
- Licensed installer of pressure sewer pumps for Whangarei District Council
- Free site assessment offered before any quote is given
- All work fully insured and guaranteed
Location & Contact
Name: Woods Drainage
Address: Whangārei
Phone: 027 788 9001
Website: woodsdrainage.co.nz
4Clarke Concrete Ltd
Clarke Concrete builds concrete water tanks in place rather than trucking a finished tank in, which is the answer for properties a delivery truck cannot reach. The family business has been building tanks across Northland for over thirty years from its base at Kerikeri, and its own answer on how far it travels puts Whangarei at the southern edge of that range, with travel time added to the cost. A standard tank holds 22,500 litres and is cured and ready to fill roughly two to three weeks after the pour.
Services
- On-site concrete water tank construction, standard capacity 22,500 litres
- Custom dimension tanks built to suit the site
- Underground and retaining tanks
- Concrete tank repairs
- Tank cleaning, with an annual cleaning and maintenance plan available
Highlights
- Northland owned and operated family business, building tanks for over thirty years
- Ten year guarantee on every new Clarke Concrete tank
- Tanks are built in place, so sites no delivery truck can reach are still workable
- Materials arrive by small to medium truck, getting past overhanging branches and steep narrow driveways
- Brings its own power and water supply to site where the property has none
Location & Contact
Name: Clarke Concrete Ltd
Address: 53B Access Road, Kerikeri
Phone: 027 474 8592
Website: clarkeconcretetanks.co.nz
Water Tank Installation in Whangarei at a Glance
| Business | Based in | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Wal's Works | Glenbervie | Owned and operated by Keith Whalley since 1984 |
| Kara Drainage | Whangarei | Established in 2010 by certified drainlayer Kerry Griffin |
| Woods Drainage | Whangārei | Certifying drainlayer with over twenty years in drainlaying and septi... |
| Clarke Concrete Ltd | Kerikeri | Northland owned and operated family business |
How to Choose the Right Water Tank Installation in Whangarei
- Check whether the company handles the base as well as the tank, because a tank set on a poorly prepared pad is the most common source of trouble later
- Ask exactly what the quote covers, in particular the inlet, overflow and outlet fittings, and whether the pump and filtration are priced separately
- Match the material to the site: concrete keeps water cooler and can be buried, while polyethylene is lighter and easier to place on awkward ground
- Confirm access before you order, since a pre-made tank needs truck access to the site and an on-site build does not
- Look for a certifying drainlayer or a named workmanship guarantee, and ask how many years that guarantee runs for
Frequently Asked Questions About Whangarei Water Tank Installation
How much does water tank installation cost in Whangarei?
Installers quote per site rather than off a price list, because the total depends on tank capacity and material, how much earthwork the base needs, how far the truck or crew has to travel, and whether a pump and filtration are part of the job. Sending photographs of the site and the access with your enquiry usually gets you a firmer number faster, and some companies waive a site inspection charge if you do.
Do I need a building consent for a water tank?
It depends on the tank. Schedule 1 of the Building Act exempts some water storage tanks from consent, but the exemptions carry conditions covering capacity, how the tank is supported and where it sits in relation to buildings and boundaries, so a large or elevated tank can still need consent. Check the rules on building.govt.nz and confirm with Whangarei District Council before you order, since the council is the consenting authority for the district.
What size water tank do I need?
Sizing works back from your roof catchment area, the number of people in the house and how long the dry spell has to be covered. Northland summers can run dry for weeks, so rural properties on tank supply alone generally go considerably larger than a town section using a tank for the garden or for stormwater detention. A good installer will ask for your roof area and household size before recommending a capacity.
Should I choose a concrete or a plastic tank?
Concrete tanks hold water at a cooler temperature, stand up better to fire, can be buried, and raise the pH of naturally acidic rainwater, which protects plumbing fittings. They are heavier and more expensive, and the site has to suit that weight. Food grade polyethylene tanks are UV stabilised, lighter, cheaper, easy to move with a digger and simple to weld if they ever split. The site and the budget usually decide it more than preference does.
What site preparation is needed before the tank goes in?
The pad has to be level, compacted and on original ground rather than fill. On-site concrete builds typically call for a five metre by five metre level area laid with compacted rock and metal fines. For a delivered tank, the installer will level and compact the area with a digger before the truck arrives. Also think about emergency service access to the tank when you pick the spot.
How long does the installation take?
A delivered concrete or polyethylene tank is usually on site within a couple of weeks of ordering, subject to demand, and set in place the same day it arrives. A tank built on site takes about two days to construct, with the boxing stripped and fittings installed a week to ten days later, and the tank cured and ready to fill roughly two to three weeks after construction finishes.
Do I need a pump and filtration as well?
Almost always. Gravity alone will not give a house useful pressure unless the tank sits well above it, so a pressure pump is normally part of the install. Filtration is a separate decision: a first flush diverter and leaf guard keep the worst out of the tank, and cartridge filtration with UV treatment is the common set-up where tank water is the drinking supply.
How often should a rainwater tank be cleaned?
Leaves and debris wash off the roof into the tank and break down into sludge on the floor, which eventually reaches the level of the outlet. Tank specialists recommend an inspection and clean at least every five years, and yearly is better. Modern vacuum cleaning removes the sludge without emptying the tank, so you are not left buying a replacement tanker load of water afterwards.
How We Chose the Best Water Tank Installation in Whangarei
Every business in this guide was found by searching for water tank installation in Whangarei, then checked against its own website. Names, addresses and phone numbers are taken from the business’s own site rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what they publish themselves. We also check that each one is actually based in or genuinely serving Whangarei, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business with no website of its own is not listed, because there is no primary source to verify it against.