About Tanks

Sprinkler Ban

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS LOGO LATELY?

DO YOU HAVE TO BUCKET WATER TO YOUR GARDEN?

ARE YOU ALLOWED TO TOP UP YOUR POOL?

All the above is now common place in most suburbs throughout Australia. Many State Governments and local councils now realize that the water usage of the Australian people, cannot be meet with the current water storage dams. Especially when, frequent droughts occur in the great land of ours. This water shortage problem is not only limited to Australia, but is currently occurring throughout the world.

Have you noticed that it seems drier; and the rains we get at certain times of the year do not arrive as frequently? All of this adds up to the increased costs of supplying us water. That is why State and Local authorities are encouraging householders to install their own water tanks NOW.

(image) wtaer tanks and water metersDo you have a water meter?
The old system was that the council allowed you to use unlimited water or allocated a reasonable amount to use before paying to use excess. This system is now ending, and in most cases local councils have already started charging you directly for every litre of water you and your family use. If you like to water the garden or have a swimming pool that requires topping up in summer then these increase water costs will be an additional burden on the household budget.

If you already use water tanks for your daily water, you are not protected from the water price increases. In dry times when there is not enough rain to keep your water tanks full and you have to buy in water, the cost of a load of water will increase.

This means for all of us that we will be locked into the user pays system. As the population of Australia increases and the amount of water that can be supplied by local authorities diminishes the water costs will escalate. This is already starting to happen, in some areas water costs have tripled. Will you be prepared.

The following is a summary of some of the differences between the various styles of water storage tanks available in today's market, and a rundown on water tank maintenance. Plus some of the Water Purification items that are currently being used.

RAINWATER TANKS
Poly tanksQueenslanders each use an average of 635 litres of water per working day. That’s about 70 nine litre buckets. And most of this goes down the drain.

By using water from rainwater tanks, household demand on water from reticulated system can be reduced.

Rain water tanks have long been a source of domestic water in Australia. At one time the were a standard feature in suburban back yards, They gradually disappeared as town and city water supply services expanded. Today rainwater tanks are necessary for may rual and outback home owners.

Tanks are also being discovered by people in urban and suburban areas as well as for commercial applications. We are all  searching for ways to reduce water bills and play a part in protecting the environment. The local authorities are also beginning to understand the cost saving to be gained in allowing people to partly be responsible for their own water storage.

CHOOSING A RAINWATER TANK
The size of the rainwater tank will depend on:

  • Rainfall in your area
  • Roof area available
  • How you plan to use rainwater
  • The number of people living in the house
  • Water usage

Click here to work out the rainfall on your roof.

WATER USAGE
Water usage varies from one household to another. An important factor is the number of people in the household. Typical Queensland figures are as follows, for inside the home.

  • 1 person – 170 litres/day
  • 4 People – 248,200 litres per year

WATER QUALITY
TanksMany things can affect water quality in tanks

  • Atmospheric pollution
  • Bird and possum droppings
  • Roof materials and paints
  • Trapped insects and small animals
  • Rotten leaves
  • Dust on roofs
  • Installation

TANK MAINTENANCE
 Tanks are designed to filter leaf litter and prevent entry by insects and small creatures like lizards and frogs. All tanks need regular maintenance to work properly.

Tank maintenance is the key to water quality. It is important to:

  • Keep gutters and roof clear of leaves and other material, more frequent checks are needed if there are overhanging trees.
  • Clean inlet strainers whenever necessary.
  • Make sure the inlet strainers, mosquito proofing and lids are in good repair.
  • Lids should be tight fitting.

ROOFING MATERIALS, PAINTS AND ENVIROMENTAL ASPECTS
Tanks should not be used to collect water from roofing where lead based paints or tar-based coatings have been used.

  • Run off collectionRun-off collected from roofs with lead sources (eg flashing) or through some types of PVC pipes that might contain lead.
  • The first few run-offs from new cement and metal tiled roofs should be discarded. This will generally happen in the building process.
  • Run-off collected in some urban and industrial areas will contain pollutants and may not be suitable for drinking water.
  • Run-off collected in some agricultural areas may be contaminated with agricultural pesticides and residues, and may not be suitable for drinking.

When using a water storage tank you have to maintain vigilance in monitoring water quality. This required only a small amount of your time if done regularly. Rainwater tanks offer homeowners the chance to reduce water usage and protect our environment for the future.

TANK STANDS
Types:

  • Concrete Slab
  • Sand ring filled with crusher dust
  • Crusher dust base with support edging
  • Concrete tank stand
  • Precast concrete slabs
  • Timber tank stand
  • Steel tank stand
  • Sand should never be used as a tank support

Any tank stand has to be able to support the weight of the tank and water.

Water weighs:

  • 1 litre = 1 kilogram  eg. 1000 kilograms = 1 tonne
  • 1 gallon = 10 lbs   eg. 2240 lbs = 1 ton
  • 7000 gals (31500) litres = 31500 kilograms or 31 tons
  • 5000 gals (22500) litres = 22500 kilograms or 22.2 tons
  • 1140 gals (5100) litres  = 4500 kilograms or 5 ton

We recommend that you check with your local authority before proceeding with a elevated stand as regulations differ between areas.

TANK INSTALLATION
The life of a tank is dependant upon many factors and a little care in the choice of the location of the tank can often mean a difference of many years. Whenever possible tanks should be installed in a cool position, preferably on the southern side of a building, away from trees from which leaves might clog the strainer or contaminate the water. Direct sunlight falling on a tank for long periods on a hot day can create temperature differentials in the water. This can affect the performance of the tanks. All over flow water must be piped away from the tank base regardless of the tank type.