Entries are now being accepted for the 2023 Tank of the Year competition presented by Tnemec Company, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance protective coatings. Since 2006, Tnemec has celebrated the innovative and creative uses of its coatings on water tanks with the annual Tank of the Year contest. Each year, potable water tanks of all varieties from across the U.S. and Canada are narrowed down to determine the most impressive coatings projects in the water tank industry. All tank styles are eligible and the deadline for nominating projects is Friday, September 22.

“We look forward to another great year of recognizing the creative uses of Tnemec coatings on water storage tanks,” explained Brian Cheshire, Sales Director of the Water & Wastewater Market. “It is truly amazing to see the evolution and progression of this contest over the years. The enthusiasm and overall hometown pride generated by these coating projects are just a few of the things that can be showcased by way of this contest.”

Nominations can be submitted electronically by visiting tnemec.com/tankoftheyear. All varieties of water tanks are eligible. Nominated tanks must have been coated, or recoated, in the last two years with Tnemec coatings, and should be submitted with high-resolution photography.

Once the deadline has passed, photographs of all nominated water tanks will be posted on the contest website where the general public can vote for their favorite tank: The People’s Choice. People’s Choice online voting will be open from October 2-13.

The winner of the People’s Choice will automatically be considered among 11 other runners-up for the official Tank of the Year crown. A committee of water tank enthusiasts will judge these finalists based on artistic value, the significance of the tank to the surrounding community, and any challenges encountered during the project. The overall winner of the Tank of the Year contest will be announced Friday, Oct. 20.

Last year’s Tank of the Year was located in Bossier City, Louisiana. The applicators at Utility Service Group coated the city’s tank with graphics showcasing patriotic colors that depict the support of our troops and first responders. Using Tnemec’s long-lasting fluoropolymer finish HydroFlon, the project team completed the water tank knowing it will retain its vibrant color and gloss for years and serve as a community billboard to visitors near and far. 

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

During the 2022 competition, over 350 tanks were nominated for the contest. The public cast over 12,000 online votes.

“The Tank of the Year competition has gained popularity in the industry since its inception in 2006,” Cheshire added. “We look forward to seeing the creativity and quality workmanship that will be highlighted in the nominations this year, and hope that Tank of the Year continues to be an exciting contest for every engineer, applicator, and municipality involved.”