Wood is a natural for water tanks because it is an insulator which helps control temperatures within critical processing parameters. It does not require heating to keep water from freezing. Also, heat loss by conduction through tank or pipe walls is appreciably less for wood than other materials. Wood tanks are corrosion resistant, so they do not affect the taste of water in any way. Finally, wood tanks and pipe have shown remarkable longevity and never require descaling, sanding, scraping or painting. Redwood water tanks are still in use after 90 years.