Nominations can be submitted electronically by visiting tnemec.com/tankoftheyear. Once the deadline has passed, photographs of all nominated water tanks will be posted on the contest website, available Oct. 5-16, where the general public can vote for the People’s Choice.

The People’s Choice will automatically be considered among 11 other committee-determined runners-up for the official Tank of the Year crown. A committee of water tank enthusiasts will judge these finalists based on artistic value, significance of the tank to the surrounding community and challenges encountered during the project. The overall winner of the Tank of the Year contest will be announced Friday, Oct. 23.

Last year’s winning tank is located in Wamego, Kansas. This Wizard-of-Oz-themed elevated tank resembles a hot air balloon, with all its bright colors – brick-road yellows, ruby reds and Emerald City greens – coming together in a design vivid enough to help the town and its other Oz-themed attractions stand out to locals and passersby alike.

“To help keep this tank colorful for years to come, an advanced fluoropolymer coating system, featuring Series 700 HydroFlon, was selected to provide the exterior design with unprecedented color and gloss retention,” Keilbey observed. “HydroFlon limits maintenance and extends the service life of water storage tanks, providing one of the most sustainable coating options with the lowest lifecycle cost.”

During the 2019 competition, more than 300 tanks were officially nominated for the contest. The public cast a total of approximately 20,000 online votes.

“The Tank of the Year competition has gained popularity in the industry since its inception in 2006,” Keilbey added. “We look forward to seeing what this year’s competition looks like, and hope that it continues to be an exciting contest for every engineer, applicator and municipality involved.”