As summer continues to see record-breaking temperatures, flexible thermoplastic specialists, Structure-flex, are highlighting the growing importance of temporary water storage at outdoor events.
Summer 2026 has already seen some of the most extreme weather conditions ever recorded, including flooding, drought and heatwaves of above 37°C in June.
Due to this, event organisers are facing the challenge of supplying clean and fresh water to thousands of visitors at temporary venues such as glamping sites, festivals, sporting events and more.
According to leading manufacturer of water storage ‘pillow’ tanks, Structure-flex, reliable water storage infrastructure is becoming an increasingly important part of event planning.
“With outdoor events running right through the summer – and intense heatwaves becoming more common – access to water is crucial! Now more than ever, event organisers need solutions that can be deployed quickly and store large volumes of water safely. That’s why pillow tanks are becoming an increasingly popular method for water storage” says Paul Reeve, Managing Director at Structure-flex.
Made from a variety of durable PVC- and TPU- coated technical textiles, Structure-flex’s pillow tanks can be used to store and transport water, fuels and other liquids from 500 to 500,000 litres.
Widely used in humanitarian, fire-fighting, military, agriculture and construction applications, Structure-flex’s pillow tanks are also regularly used by water solutions providers to supply large-scale events with fresh water.
“Providing fresh water for drinking, catering, washing and sanitation is a huge logistical operation at temporary events. With our pillow tanks, we helped Event Solutions and Siamax supply fresh water at some of the biggest outdoor festivals in the UK, including Park Life, Wilderness, Rewind, Love Trails and Medicine Festival” adds Paul.
Outdoor events tend to move from one location to another and typically require temporary infrastructure that needs to be deployed quickly and effortlessly.
Easily foldable and relatively light, Structure-flex’s pillow tanks are designed to be stored, transported and deployed with little effort. This allows organisers to manage water storage without taking up too much time, effort or space.
“The beauty of our pillow tanks is their flexibility! They can be easily transported whether empty or full, deployed wherever they’re needed and simply folded away when the event is over. This makes them a practical solution for any temporary site, whether for camping, festivals or sports events!” concludes Paul.
Established in 1970, Structure-flex manufacture a diverse range of products from flexible thermoplastic bonded together using high-frequency welding.
As well as manufacturing pillow tanks for water storage, the company is one of the largest providers of lorry tension curtains in the UK and works with many well-known brands and retailers to update the branding of their deliver fleets.
