Living in a city apartment, tiny home, or shared space often means that you need to get creative with how you store and organize your things. With limited room and little to no outdoor space, bulky equipment or traditional storage solutions just don’t cut it. But that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice sustainability, self-reliance, or your own imagination.
While plastic storage tanks are usually associated with rural farms or industrial sites, they’re far more versatile than most people realize. These USA-made containers come in a wide range of sizes and can be repurposed for everyday urban living. Whether you’re investing in sustainability, preparing for emergencies, or building your own indoor garden, here are five space-saving ways to use a plastic storage tank in small spaces.
For anyone with a green thumb or trying to develop one, try using a 55 Gallon Water Trough for a DIY Garden planter. Trough tanks are extremely durable, UV-resistant, and designed to hold weight, making them the perfect option to fill up with soil and grow some greens. Trough tanks come in an oval shape, allowing them to fit on small balconies without any sharp edges or corners to worry about. With their shorter height, trough tanks make the perfect option for children as they can climb in and out of the tank easily and at their own height.
To start, drill a couple holes in the bottom of your trough tank for proper drainage. Fill with your choice of soil, and plant away. Try plants like carrots, peas, or herbs of your choice! Compared to traditional expensive garden boxes, these plastic tanks are affordable and will last for years in the wind, rain, and sun. Using a trough tank can be a very sustainable and low-effort way to introduce some greenery to your smaller space.
Just remember: while the trough tanks are made with UV-resistant polyethylene, constant sun exposure may lead to color fading in the long-term future. Don’t fret – color fading will not affect your plant’s growth or health.
Do you live in a smaller or mobile home where you wish you could take a relaxing bath? Or even if you travel or live in an RV, do you ever wish for a little more space for your bathroom? If so, a rectangular open top tank is your answer.
Like the 500 Gallon Open Top tank , these tanks can quickly transform into versatile portable bathtubs or washing stations, making them a perfect solution for small spaces like RVs, mobile homes, or tiny backyard areas. The tank can double as a handwashing or laundry station at the same time, making it a practical solution for multiple cleaning needs while conserving water.
Open top tanks are very sturdy, and their one-piece molded design ensures stability while holding enough water for a comfortable bath or cleaning session. Unlike traditional tubs, these tanks are lightweight and easy to move around, so you can set up a bathing or washing area wherever it’s most convenient. You could even take a bath on the side of the road as a pit stop!
To maximize usability, place the tank on a level surface and consider using a small portable water pump or hose for filling and draining. Adding a lid to your tank is a great investment too, and will help keep your tank cleaner and more free of debris. A rectangular open-top tank’s durability and portability make it a smart choice for anyone looking to add a functional, mobile washing station without sacrificing space. Whether it’s for a quick bath, washing your dog, or rinsing equipment, this simple solution proves how a plastic water tank can enhance convenience in small living environments.
Bladder tanks are an excellent solution for collecting and storing both fresh and grey water, making them a versatile tool for sustainable living, emergency preparedness, and agricultural use.
Freshwater bladder tanks provide a reliable, portable source of clean water for farms, remote homes, or disaster relief situations. Their collapsible design makes them easy to fold up, transport, and set up wherever needed. Farmers, for instance, can use the 500 Gallon Freshwater Bladder to collect fresh water and ensure that their livestock and crops have a consistent water supply. Or, if a tornado or hurricane hits, freshwater bladders can easily be stored in crawlspaces or bunkers for easy-to-access drinking water.
Greywater, on the other hand, refers to used water from sinks, showers, or washing machines, which can be safely reused to irrigate plants. A small bladder tank such as the 25 Gallon Greywater Bladder can easily be placed beneath your sink or connected to your washing machine. These tanks can collect this water for your outdoor garden or even your DIY garden trough, and range from sizes as little as 25 gallons to as large as 5,000 gallons.
In small homes and city apartments, collecting greywater is a smart way to reduce water waste and promote sustainable living. Greywater efficiently feeds your plants with residual minerals from the recycled water. Greywater also allows you to live sustainably by decreasing your overall fresh water consumption, and can save you money on that expensive water bill each month.
For freshwater collection, place freshwater bladders in clean, shaded areas with a flat surface if possible for easy drainage. Use hoses or pumps to fill the tanks from wells, rainwater collection systems, or municipal sources, and attach outlets or ball valves for controlled dispensing.
For grey water collection, ensure that water from sinks, showers, or laundry is directed into tanks equipped with strainers to remove solids, and position the tank so it can gravity-feed or be pumped to garden beds or landscaping. With proper placement and care, both freshwater and grey water bladder tanks from GoTo Tanks offer a simple, portable, and efficient solution for managing water in small or flexible spaces.
If you want to water your garden or plants with greywater, spend some time researching if your plants can handle greywater. Most plants can with no problem but some may not like greywater due to what may be in it, such as soap from runoff sink water. For a general rule of thumb, avoid watering edible crops or fruit-bearing plants with greywater due to potential contamination.
For pet owners with limited indoor space or no access to a yard, a plastic tank makes the perfect compact dog-washing station.
A short trough tank can be placed on a patio, in a bathroom, or even in a laundry room, offering just enough space for a dog to stand comfortably. These tanks are lightweight, easy to clean, and resistant to scratches and odors. A tank like the 100 gallon oval stock tank can easily fit a medium sized dog and even features a 1 inch drain hole at the bottom for easy clean-up.
Many of our trough tanks feature various sizes of drain plugs to offer many options for your dog-washing station. DIY’ing your own dog-washing station at home can save you hundreds of dollars on expensive dog grooming. Your pet will feel more comfortable in the hands of its owner, and you can even promote good parenting by having your children wash the dog with you. This can be rewarding for both the parent who needs some rest and relaxation, and for the children to bond with their pet while learning responsibility. Just be careful of the soapy mess!
With all the different ways to incorporate a tank into your small-spaced life, the most important and common way to use a tank is in an emergency. Fresh drinking water is your number one priority in an emergency and you have to think quickly in a situation where your city apartment’s drinking water is cut off or contaminated.
In a small home or apartment, a compact plastic tank makes storing fresh water surprisingly easy. With so many options, two are the best for freshwater storage: Utility Tanks or Water Caddies.
A tank like the 25 Gallon Water Caddie Tank can be the perfect solution for small-spaces and can fit easily in laundry areas or in closet cabinets. Caddie’s are molded with a “slant load” or triangular shape, allowing it to fit in the corners of trailers or tight rooms. For simple dispensing of freshwater, simply use the ball valve or drain plug found at the bottom of your tank.
A second option would be portable utility tanks, such as the 55 Gallon Portable Utility Tank. With a flat bottom to stand sturdily in your home or trailer, utility tanks are a great option and can fit anywhere.
Both utility and caddies are USA-made, BPA-free, food-safe, and designed for long-term water storage with minimal maintenance and no leeching. Even if the water is being stored long-term, it will stay fresh and safe to drink at any time.
Storing water is especially important in areas prone to wildfires, earthquakes, or infrastructure issues. A plastic storage tank allows you to cover all your bases: fresh drinking water, bathing water, water to extinguish a house fire, etc. A small plastic tank in your apartment or studio can offer peace of mind without breaking the bank on traditional emergency supplies or taking up valuable living space.
Interested in investing in these 5 great ideas? GoTo Tanks has you covered. We provide a variety of plastic water tanks and support stands to choose from, and our tanks are made with high-quality, UV-resistant polyethylene available in multiple colors.
Whether you’re preparing for an emergency or just looking for a storage solution, call 1-877-468-2657 and we will help you find a tank that suits your specific needs.
