Importance of Rainwater Tanks Buying Guide

Saving rain

Australia is the driest inhabited continent and predictions are that the future is likely to get hotter and drier. So it’s all the more frightening that, per person, we’re the biggest water consumers in the world.

But drinking water is scarce. Of all the water in the world, only 1% is fresh water available for use. So it’s hard to justify that we waste so much of this precious resource on things that don’t really require good drinking water. Garden irrigation and toilet flushing, for example, apparently guzzle up around half the water we consume.

Using rainwater for these things, or recycled greywater from our baths and laundries, would make much more sense. Rainwater tank can be more effective if you know the right material of it.

Costs and considerations

If you’re interested in installing a rainwater tank, contact your local council, water supplier and health department (if you want to drink the water) first to find out which rules and regulations apply in your local area that could affect your decision.

You may need to submit a development or building application; or there may be restrictions on the tank’s location, colour, height and labelling; or noise regulations for a pump may apply. Your water supplier or a licensed plumber should be able to advise you on plumbing regulations, and your health department on issues about drinking rainwater and preventing mosquitoes breeding.

These initial inquiries should also establish whether you’re entitled to any cash rebates or bill reductions. Rebates can range from $150 to $1500 for the installation of a rainwater tank and depend on the size of the tank and whether it’s connected to a toilet and/or washing machine. Check with your local water or government authority

Outdoor, indoor or drinking?

Using the rainwater you collect for outdoor purposes only is the easiest scenario. Apart from the obligatory checks with your council and water supplier, you probably just need the tank supplier to install it and don’t need a licensed plumber if there’s no connection to the mains water supply.

If you’re allowed to connect your rainwater tank to the mains water supply, you’re likely to need a backflow prevention device so your rainwater won’t contaminate the mains supply if the water pressure changes suddenly and the water tries to flow backwards. Your water supplier may provide this free.

Many water suppliers and health authorities in Australia recommend you don’t drink the water you collect in a rainwater tank if you have access to mains water. But this is probably just to be on the safe side, because no authority can guarantee the quality of the rainwater you collect. You'll also be missing out on the benefits of fluoridated water if it's supplied in your area.

Roofs made of galvanised iron, Colorbond, Zincalume, slate and clay/ceramic or concrete tiles are OK for collection of drinking water. Taking part on how to install underground water tank or simplify rainwater metal tank can be accountable on getting potable water form rain.

Water saving tips

Cut down your time in the shower.
Install a water-efficient showerhead, and a flow regulator (restrictor) or aerator to taps to reduce the amount of water that comes out — your council or water supplier may offer rebates.
Install a dual-flush toilet (or put a brick in the cistern) to reduce the amount of water used for flushing.
Look for a water-rating label when buying appliances such as a showerhead, washing machine (a front loader uses less water), dishwasher and toilet. Together these four account for over 80% of indoor residential water use. The more stars on the label, the more water-efficient the appliance is, up to a maximum of five.
Only run full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine (unless it has a half-load program).
Fix all leaking taps.
Plant so-called ‘water-wise’ or native plants that need less water, and use mulch.
If you’re allowed to use an irrigation system in your garden, use a tap timer.
If you’re installing a new irrigation system, choose a drip system with a rain or soil moisture sensor.
For hand-watering, use a trigger nozzle or spray wand.

Water Conservation: Let us Move now

According to the water Australia, about 10% of Australian energy demand is used to treat, pump and heat water. Reduce water waste and improve the energy efficiency of your home with tips and information from Conservation Conversations!

So act now. Let us work together to conserve water by using conservation tools like rainwater tanks or other tanks that can be useful in conserving water. Go and share your knowledge in conserving water.

Deals on Water Conservation: Act Now

Containment systems like rain barrels are becoming popular again as water quantity becomes scarcer and quality becomes more questionable. Areas known for low rainfall amounts have been using these systems for decades.The most basic form of rainwater harvesting is simply collecting the water and distributing it immediately to the plants. It's no surprise this method is referred to as a "simple" system. Rainwater harvesting using a rain barrels or other collection devices are classified as a "complex" system but don't let the name deter you. Complex systems simply refer to storing the water after it is collected and providing a way to distribute the water later. The term catchment is any area from where the water is harvested. The amount of water harvested from a catchment depends on its size, surface texture, slope and rainfall received. If your roof is 2,000 square feet, and your area averages 20 inches of rain per year, you can harvest 24,000 gallons of water from your roof each year if you have a container large enough to store it. Now is the time to save our precious water supplies. After a decade of droughts across the country, the cost of potable water is increasing rapidly. With severe water restrictions in place for the first time in decades, all of us are realising just how precious water is in our daily lives.By installing water efficient products and appliances, such as rain tanks and water reducing shower heads, you may initially spend more but will save money in the long run. Water prices will likely double and triple over the next five years meaning that water savings will turn into money savings.The figure below demonstrates the water savings that can be made while constructing your home in line with the Villawood Green Guide when compared to a standard Victorian home. In all, the Earth’s water content is about 1.39 billion cubic kilometers (331 million cubic miles), with the bulk of it, about 96.5%, being in the global oceans. As for the rest, approximately 1.7% is stored in the polar icecaps, glaciers, and permanent snow, and another 1.7% is stored in groundwater, lakes, rivers, streams, and soil. Only a thousandth of 1% of the water on Earth exists as water vapor in the atmosphere. Despite its small amount, this water vapor has a huge influence on the planet. Water vapor is a powerful greenhouse gas, and it is a major driver of the Earth’s weather and climate as it travels around the globe, transporting latent heat with it. Latent heat is heat obtained by water molecules as they transition from liquid or solid to vapor; the heat is released when the molecules condense from vapor back to liquid or solid form, creating cloud droplets and various forms of precipitation. Guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency on protecting all bodies of water. Water reservation is the best practice that we can act now. Find tools like Metal tank and other rainwater tanks that will help a lot in water reservation. If you want to act on reserving water, better to use tools like this round tank or maybe the metal water tank

Handy Tips for Water Conservation

Look at this video from Warren high School. This is an amazing video that serve as guide for your kids how to conserve water. in this video, you will get some handy tips for water conservation. in which kids are able to do as well. in preparing for worthy water system, you can choose underground water tank or find some durable tank material like metal water tank.

See about this blog at http://www.centralbasin.org/blog/2012/06/08/warren-high-school-2012/#more-2360

Water Scarcity Causes Extinction of Life

Unsustainable extraction of freshwater and other human interference with the water cycle are the immediate causes of water scarcity within a river basin. Over-extraction has its most straightforward manifestation in the level of aquifers, underground reserves charged by the passage of water through soil and rocks. If withdrawals exceed the natural rate of recharge, the level of an aquifer will fall, eventually drying up altogether. In parts of India, the water table is believed to have fallen more than 300 metres.

Human intervention which degrades the quantity and quality of the natural supply of freshwater occurs in three principal ways. Undoubtedly, there are approximately 48,000 large dams in place around the world, with many more under construction. Dams alter the natural flow of a river, often improving water and energy security for some, at the expense of others.

Secondly, soil moisture is lost in land degradation that results from poor farming practices and deforestation. And thirdly, surface waters are polluted by run-off of chemicals used in farming and by untreated industrial and household wastewater in cities. This is an acute problem in less developed countries where environmental and sanitation regulations remain inadequate.

In many countries of sub-Saharan Africa, there is an additional category of “economic” water scarcity which is caused by too little human intervention. This occurs when natural supplies are sufficient to meet demand but fail to reach users due to shortcomings in distribution or storage infrastructure.

Being sustainable in water, we need to act now for water conservation. I think, dealing with rainwater conservation can help a lot in minimising the uses of potable water. Rainwater tank products are the usefull instruments in conserving water for treating rainwater. For having well manageable rainwater treatment, underground water tank can be the best design.

Looking for the Trends in Water Tanks

There are many new styles of water tanks available, with new innovations coming out all the time.  The most common types of tanks are the plastic or polymer tanks which have traditionally been round in shape.  These days, manufacturers are working with rectangular or square designs which are often much easier to place within a home and look much less intrusive.  These tanks are also available in a huge range of colours, so that they are able to suit any home colour scheme.

Steel tanks are still common, also, and these are usually lined with polyethylene in order to prevent corrosion.  While round metal water tank is still the most common shape, it seems that manufacturers are finding new ways to work with steel all the time.  Concrete water tanks are best if you need to locate your tank underground.  As they are load-bearing, they are great for placing under things such as driveways and entertaining areas.

One new innovation in water tank design is to design the tank so that it resembles a boulder or a rock.  This allows the tank to be placed unobtrusively within the landscape, so that the casual observer wouldn’t even know that it was there.  These tanks are also fantastic for environmentally sensitive areas.

In recent years, a major advancement in water tank design has been the development of the rubber water tank bladder.  The sheer flexibility of these means that they can be installed underneath a house, or even in the back of a vehicle.  Bladders are completely sealed and have an extremely high resistance to puncturing to ensure that they will not burst in the home’s sub-floor space.  Water bladders come with all of the necessary inlet and outlet valves. See more information about water tank Australia.