When Destin Water Users, Inc. was planning to install a new water tank in the seaside city of Destin, Florida, they knew it would need to be as beautiful as their surroundings – and complement some other great-looking tanks in the area. With the help of a truly one-of-a-kind artist and a trusted, high-quality coating supplier, the owners were able to add an elevated tank to their water network that would soon be coated with one of the most creative and intricate tank murals ever painted.

Adorned with a variety of sea creatures local to the area, the Destin tank depicts an ultra-realistic underwater scene. The top (bowl) of the elevated tank showcases larger-than-life sea turtles, dolphins and marlin, while the base cone was painted to resemble a whole coral community and its diverse sea life, complete with reef sharks, grouper, barracuda and more.

The project all began around the time that another water tank in Destin was recognized as the 2017 Tank of the Year. The owners knew that any tank erected after that one – not to mention another Tank of the Year winner in nearby Okaloosa Island – would need to be exceptional.

The design for the new Destin tank was proposed to the project team more than two years before it was completed and everyone agreed that the mural would be perfect. But the final design still left the owners shocked when it turned out even better than expected.

“I’ve been in this business for 23 years and I’ve never seen this much detail painted on an elevated storage tank,” noted Judd Mooso, Destin Water Users, Inc. “It really fits in perfectly with the local community and showcases all the sea life our town has to offer.”

The 167-foot water tank in Destin was fabricated and erected by Phoenix Fabricators and Erectors, Inc. and primed inside and out using Tnemec’s moisture-cured, zinc-rich primer for potable water storage, Series 91-H2O Hydro-Zinc.

American Suncraft Co, Inc., then applied a full coat of a potable water-approved polyamide epoxy coating on the tank exterior, followed by a coat of Series 73 Endura-Shield, a time-tested and reliable acrylic polyurethane coating. This coating system was topcoated using Tnemec’s UV-resistant fluoropolymer finish, Series 700 HydroFlon, to provide long-term color and gloss retention.“We knew the tank would need a long-lasting topcoat to ensure its design stays vibrant, especially in the coastal climate,” explained local Tnemec representative, Robert Crumbaugh with SteelCon Coating Systems, Inc. “The whole project team had used HydroFlon before, and understood how user-friendly it is and just how long it can last.”

The tank’s interior was lined using a 100% solids, fast-cure epoxy coating, Series FC22 Epoxoline, which is certified in accordance with NSF Std. 61 & NSF 600. The tank belly, or the interior dry portion, was also coated with a polyamide epoxy coating and followed with an insulating coating, Series 971 Aerolon Acrylic, to reduce condensation inside the tank’s pedestal.

“All the coatings used on this tank are truly some of the best-performing products on the market, so this tank is set up to last long into the future,” added Crumbaugh.

The tank was completed and put on-line in July 2020. In October 2020, the project was named Tnemec’s 2020 Tank of the Year. Among the nearly 300 other water tanks submitted for the contest, the tank stood out and was chosen based on its unique design, its contribution to the community and the innovative coating systems used.