Rainwater Tank System: Useful Tips in Harvesting Rainwaters

Rainwater harvesting simply collects the rain which fall onto roofs, then stores it in a tank until required for use. When required, the water is then pumped to the point of use or to a secondary tank (header tank or break tank), thus displacing what would otherwise be a demand for mains-water. In the process, a volume of water is kept out of the storm-water management system, thereby helping to reduce flooding risks. Rainwater harvesting is not a new concept; however, over the last century its use has diminished with the availability of a clean, inexpensive and reliable water source through the mains supply.

More recently, water demand has started to exceed supply, and localised flooding has become an issue. Industry experts are now recognising the important role that rainwater harvesting (also known as rainwater recycling, and greywater recycling) has to play in alleviating both these problems. With strategic water planners looking to reduce the amount of water consumption per head going forward. Solutions such as rainwater harvesting will play a critical role. Rainwater is captured from the roof(s), and brought to a central point, via normal guttering and down-pipes, to enter a storage tank (frequently underground), where it is filtered on entry. A highly efficient and reliable submersible pump delivers the water to a service on demand. Depending on the circumstances a secondary tank (header tank) can be used to gravity feed the water to the point of use.

The size of the storage tank is determined by considering the amount of water available for storage (a function of roof size and local average rainfall), and the amount of water likely to be used (a function of buildings occupancy and function). It is very important not to over-size the rainwater tank too much. An over-sized tank may result in a lower than expected quality of water.
Considerations for fitting a rainwater collection system to an existing property

• The external drainage from the roof needs to be modified to bring the water to a central point.
• Access for the tank and excavation is required.
• Internal plumbing is usually required to be separated out from the drinking (incl. bathing) water from the non-drinking water (WC, washing machine & outside tap.)

Get Benefited With Rainwater Tanks

In the past, rainwater tanks were a common feature of the Australian landscape, but they’ve almost disappeared from our cities now. The majority of Australian households get their water from a reticulated supply. In the 1990s, 16% of households used a rainwater tank and for 13% it was their main source of drinking water.

In recent years, however, the long-lasting drought in many parts of the country and widespread water restrictions have drawn attention to water conservation issues and put rainwater tanks right back onto urban agendas. Many local councils, water suppliers and state governments have been encouraging residents to install a rainwater tank, usually with the offer of a rebate.

The potential benefits of installing a rainwater tank are plentiful, and you don’t need to live in a wet or tropical area to reap them. South Australia, the country’s driest state, has the highest rate of rainwater tank usage. More than half the households there have one, and for more than a third it’s their main source of drinking water., With a rainwater tank products, you’ll:
1. Collect most of the rain (around 80%) that falls onto the areas of your roof you have connected to gutters and downpipes into your tank. For example, if 10 mm of rain falls on to 100 m2 of roof you’ll ‘harvest’ about 800 L of rainwater. That’s about as much as an average Sydney household of three would use in a day if they made no efforts to save water. If they did, they’d get their consumption down to around 500–600 L a day.

2. Reduce your consumption of mains water and, in the long term, cut your water bill. Your water supplier may be able to give you an indication of the savings you can expect.

3. Lower your impact on the environment by reducing your demand on mains water as well as the amount of stormwater runoff into rivers and oceans.

4. ‘Harvest’ water that tastes better and is generally less salty, which is better for appliances and plants.

Ways to Install Rainwater Tanks

Rainwater tanks are an eco-friendly device used to store rain water runoff collected by the gutters on your roof. During a half-inch rainfall, a 50-gallon rain water tank can fill up. This water is safe for outdoor uses such as watering gardens and lawns, washing tools or keeping compost bins moist. Storing rain water reduces your domestic water bill and city's water demands and also helps the environment by conserving water. Rain water tanks are available for purchase at your local garden center; alternatively, you can modify a plastic drum to serve as a rainwater tank system.

Instructions:
1. Clean the rain water tank with a mixture of 1/8 cup bleach and 5 gallons water.
2. Drill a 15/16-inch hole near the bottom of the rain water tank for the drain hole, and insert a 3/4-inch spigot. Make sure the hole is far enough off the ground to attach a garden hose or fill watering cans.
3. Lay a secure cinder block foundation underneath the downspout next to your house. Layer blocks in a crisscross pattern if more than one layer is needed for added support.
4. Place the rain water tank on top of the foundation.
5. Cut the downspout with a fine-toothed hacksaw, leaving enough length to allow the downspout to reach the top of the rain water tank.
6. Attach one end of the flexible downspout extender to the downspout previously cut and the other end to the opening on the top of the rain water tank. If the tank does not have a hole in the top, drill a hole large enough to insert the downspout extender.

Choose Undergorund and Backyard Rainwater Tank

Rainwater tanks can be placed anywhere you want them to be, provided it is conducive to its working. It is of utmost importance that the inlet is right below the guttering if you want to harvest rain water from the roof. You will find many different shapes of tanks which can be placed either above the ground or under it.

Torrential rains and extreme heat and cold may have an adverse effect on tanks installed above the ground; they can catch fire or get damaged during heavy showers and strong winds. When rain water tanks are installed below the ground, roots of trees can hamper its structure and also contaminate the water, this quite naturally is not an issue with above the ground rain water tanks. You can opt for rainwater tanks that are uncovered if they are installed above the ground but not in ones installed underground. It is not safe and has the risk of soil, faeces, pesticides entering it during rains as surface run offs. Installing above the ground rain water tanks is much easier and doesn’t require excavation as in the case of rain water tanks installed below. Maintenance of poly rain water tanks above the ground is much easier as well.

Weigh out all your options before installing your rain water tank. You also have the chose the type and shape of the tank. You can choose between steel, wood, concrete, fibre glass and polyethylene (poly) water tanks. There are also many shapes you can choose from. There are round tanks that are very popular all over the world and that can hold a large capacity of water. You can also go in for the slimline tanks that are great on the side of a wall and behind the house. You also have rain water tanks that are ornate and specifically designed to add to the façade of the house and many more to chose from.

Underground Rainwater Tank Advantages

Many people choose to have their tanks installed above ground, just because it is a simpler operation and takes less time. But underground pools are ideal for people who have large water needs, such as a swimming pool to fill. Maybe they have a large area under a deck which would be ideal for a rainwater tank. Other options are underneath driveways, pergolas or under sheds. An underground tank is usually constructed of concrete but can also be made of poly plastic. One interesting combination is to have your tank both above and below the ground. That is, the tank is partly submerged, often placed along a fence line, so that a larger tank can be installed, without marring the aesthetic appearance of the home.

Rainwater tanks should be installed by a qualified and experienced plumber. If space is at a premium, underground tanks make an excellent choice. Rainwater harvesting system elements are made of long lasting materials resistant to rusting and chemical contamination and have a simple technical structure. This makes maintenance and cleaning a very simple procedure.

The Tankstar Underground Rainwater system is lightweight’ space saving’ underground tank that provides lifting lugs at top of the tank for ease of maneuverability and installation; it’s also extremely durable and highly resistant to cracking caused by external pressure created by ground movement.

Water Conservation for your Home

Do you still use clean, drinking water to water your garden and wash your car? I can’t face the thought of using clean water for these things so have been checking out various options to see which make the most sense for my house. I’ve found a wide range of options suiting all pockets and requirements. Read on for a quick summary.

Bells and whistles rainwater collection tank

The most elaborate and most expensive setup involves connecting all your rooftop gutters to one single point to feed a large tank, normally about 5000lt. It often involves a pump connected to an irrigation system, and is most suitable for large gardens that require a lot of water. I find these large tanks quite an eyesore, but you can always bury them, or wrap with chicken mesh and grow some creepers around it.  You could also install automated float systems that  top your tank up with municipal water when needed.

Gutter collection system

If option 1 is a little extreme for you, the simplest thing is to place a small tank at the base of one gutter, preferably one that discharges the largest volume of water. An easy way to test which gutter collects the most rainwater  is to put similar size containers under each gutter when it’s raining and see which one fills up first. The nice thing about this is that the “tank” can be anything, from a wheelie bin to an old geyser. Rain water being piped directly into the pool

Tankstar rainwater collection tank

The most elaborate and most expensive setup involves connecting all your rooftop gutters to one single point to feed a large tank. It often involves a pump connected to an irrigation system, and is most suitable for large gardens that require a lot of water. I find these large tanks quite an eyesore, but you can always bury them, or wrap with chicken mesh and grow some creepers around it.  You could also install automated float systems that  top your tank up with municipal water when needed.

Pumping through rainwater outlet

The final feasible option I’ve found is to collect water at your house’s storm water outlet and pump this into a tank from there. This option is the most unusual of the lot but quite innovative. You have a much larger surface area to collect water from than just your roof but then of course potential for contamination is higher. Unlike the other two options, this one might be a little more difficult to install and maintain, but you manage to collect a lot more water. Obviously filters are available, and recommended if you are collecting from a particularly dirty collection area, or if you are watering plants you plan on eating.

Household water reusing

There are many ways to reuse the water you use in your kitchen and bathroom – this water is known as grey water. You can install a grey water system which collects household water in a tank and pumps it into your garden. A simpler, less expensive way is to keep a bucket in the shower to catch the water while you wait for it to heat up – you can use this water in your garden, or to flush the toilet. Keep a tub in the sink to catch water used for washing vegetables to water your pot plants. Use a bucket to scoop out your bathwater and use it in the garden.

I urge you to considerer creating at least a small rain water collection system at your house. Using clean drinking water to water your grass, wash your car and fill your pool is a little silly I think, and a habit we should all try break. Need I even mention how much coal based electricity is going in to treating and distributing this water?  Rainwater is clean and free, use it!

For more ideas on how to make savings at home try using rainwater tanks of tankstar. For water savings at work, try the tankstar raiwater products and services.

Important Things How Rainwater Tanks Are Effective

 Rainwater tanks are real boon to mankind. It is a dual blessing for nature and man as it works to the benefit of both. In a time where we have to preserve every possible resource, rain water tanks do just that. Before considering the size and type of rain water tank let’s find out how they work.

Rainfall is collected in water bodies and absorbed by the surface, even with all the development we have made, mankind still depends on rainfall to replenish water supply ever year. Rain fall is erratic – sometimes it is excessive and sometimes extremely scanty. To make sure we can retain as much of the rain water, rain water harvesting has added importance

Rainwater tanks system play a vital in role in rain water harvesting. A special system is installed in the house depending on a number of factors. When rain falls, special catchment areas of the roof retain the water. The rain water is then transported to the rain water tanks installed above the ground or below through special gutters installed around the roof area. The rain water is collected in the water tank through special pipes and is stored for use around the house.