How can you hide a water tank in your property?

One of the things I love about shore towns like Ocean City is how they hide utility stuff outside. They turn it into art. Here's an article from Jesse in Australia on how you might hide a water tank on your personal property.

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Having an outdoor water tank can be a very environmentally-friendly idea, or even a necessity in drier climates that rely on harvested rain for watering the garden. Unfortunately, they're not always that attractive.

A few tips on "hiding" your water tank can help improve the look of your yard. Whether you just make a couple small touch-ups, or start a larger renovation to bury the tank (you'll want to get a utility locating service to help before you dig), you can turn that eyesore into a lovely focal point.

Placement

First of all, could the tank be placed in a less obvious location? With a little additional eaves trough, hose or pipe, you may be able to extend your supply line a little farther, which would allow you to place the tank around a corner where it's not as visible. Don't assume that they always need to be placed directly under your existing downspouts.

Camouflage Coloring

Most tanks are some sort of neutral color, or just plain unfinished sheet metal. If you have a dark home that is a particular color, that can make the tank stand out like a sore thumb. A couple coats of matching paint and that tank will blend in in no time.

Another option involving paint is to actually make it more visible but also more attractive with some colorful paint. If you have some artistic skill, think of your tank as an outdoor canvas and create some art.

Cover Ups

Now here are a few suggestions on how to literally hide or block your tank from view. One of the simplest options is to plant a few shrubs around the tank to create a hedge to block its view. You may need a little patience with this approach unless you buy plants that are already large enough to do the job. Otherwise, it can take a few years to have a decent screen in place. Certain plants do grow faster than others, so chose accordingly.

If you would rather build something for a more immediate result, you can start to get creative. Fencing, lattice and even tall planters are all materials that work well in building a perfect tank screen that would blend in with the rest of your landscape decor.

Bury It

A standard water tank should not be completely buried because the tank walls are not designed to withstand the pressures from the outside. But you can get away with dropping the tank down a couple of feet below the surface, which can significantly reduce its visual impact. Of course, if the base of the tank is below ground, that can get in the way of using a spigot of tap that is set at the bottom of the tank. You'll have to judge for yourself if this is an option that would help in your situation.

So if you are unhappy with the look of your water tank, or have even avoided getting one because they are unattractive, there are lots of ways you can make it "disappear" in your yard. 

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Do you have an outdoor water tank?