Using Concrete Tanks for Underground Storage and Bunkers

Sunday, 12 March 2017 by Ri Industries

When you think of Ri-Industries, do you think of storage? Do you think of bunkers? Probably not, but you could. You may already be familiar with our reputation in precast concrete tanks used for waste water treatment systems, septic systems, and rainwater tanks. Now you can get to know us for some other uses.

We wrote about some of the unique uses for our tanks a while ago. If you read that blog, you will see pictures of concrete tanks being used as a base of a sculpture and even as a plunge pool. It also talks about using the concrete tanks for shelter and storage. We thought now might be a good time to elaborate on these, as we are seeing an increasing trend amongst our South Australian customers for underground cellars and bunkers.

The political and environmental climates of the world have created a larger interest in underground storage and underground bunkers. We can custom design features to suit your requirements, just as we have done for a customer in the Tea Tree Gully area. He used one of our precast concrete tanks as an underground cellar. We custom-made a lid for the tank and the customer added a staircase for easy access. It’s been our experience that people living in the metro area tend to use the concrete tanks as an underground cellar, while residents of the Adelaide Hills tend to use the concrete tanks as storage to protect belongings from fire.

What might someone place in underground tank? Some items might be:

Important documents
Family heirlooms
Clothing
Cash, credit cards
Food
Blankets
Camping equipment
Computer hardware/software
Wine

In bushfire prone areas, our customers really are thinking ahead by using underground concrete tanks as bunkers. What peace of mind you will have knowing that the documents you need to recover from a disaster are safe and accessible along with some clothing and cash to get you by. It is always so heartbreaking to see news footage of people coming back to their home destroyed by flood or fire and watch them sift through the wreckage trying to salvage precious family mementos. Concrete tanks really can help.

Please call us (08 8444 8100) to learn more about using precast concrete tanks for underground storage, cellars or bunkers. We look forward to hearing from you.

Summertime Septic Tank Maintenance

Thursday, 2 February 2017 by Ri Industries

Summer should be a carefree time when you slow down the pace a bit and enjoy sights and smells of the season. Poor septic tank maintenance can create the wrong sights and the wrong smells! Here are some summertime tips for septic tank maintenance.

What are some signs that your septic tank may be in need of maintenance?

contaminated wells
untreated sewage discharge
soft smell spots
pooling water
slow drains
an overly healthy lawn
heavy rainfall

Wait, rainfall? Yes! Heavy rainfalls can cause the water table to rise. When the water table rises too high, it can saturate the septic tanks leach field which can cause contaminants to back up into the septic tank. So, when there has been heavy rain, take steps to put less stress on the septic system. For example, flush the toilet less, take shorter showers, and do less laundry. Also, divert water flow away from the area of the septic tank. Keep the soil around the septic tank from getting too saturated.

It is best to take preventative action to avoid major problems with the septic system so follow the recommendations for best care practices and be familiar with warning signs that maintenance may be needed. Questions? Call Ri-Industries , 08 8444 8100, and we’ll be happy to help!

Image show a Christmas holiday wreath around a Ri-Industries Septic Tank

Septic System Care for the Holidays

Friday, 13 January 2017 by Ri Industries

Holidays are the time for friends and family to gather together and enjoy great company, food, and drink. Those who welcome one and all into their homes work hard to create a festive ambience for all to enjoy. Nothing can ruin smells of delectable holiday dishes and the spreading of good cheer like a backed up septic system can! So if you’re facilities will be working extra hard this holiday season, here are some helpful tips to know:

Plan water use – Having guests in the home means extra water usage. From toilet flushing and hand washing for short term visitors to showers and laundry for long term guests. Do as much as you can before guests arrive. Have dishes washed, laundry done, and maybe even clean your family (otherwise known as shower) the day before the big event. If you have guests staying over, politely request they take short showers, turn off water while brushing teeth or washing dishes. After all, it is in their best interest as well as yours to take care of the septic system!
While you’re talking to your guests … – Now that you have asked for consideration in the amount of water your guests use, remind them of which items are appropriate to flush. The list is short: toilet paper and human waste. All other items such as feminine hygiene products, baby wipes, cleaning products, cigarette butts and other items should be thrown in the trash can. This will help prevent those items from getting into your septic tank and causing a blockage.
Early is better – Prepare as much of the food and drink beforehand as possible. Doing so will help spread out the water use.
Out of sight means out of use – Using the garbage disposal is one thing to avoid completely when your septic system will be asked to accommodate extra use. Block the switch so guests will not see and use it and to remind you that it is off limits.

Follow the above tips to keep your septic system from giving back this holiday season! For more tips or information on septic systems, please call us at 08 8444 8100.

Happy Holidays from Ri-Industries!

Achilles Supply Chain Community Member

Friday, 4 November 2016 by Ri Industries

As a pre-cast concrete manufacturer, Ri-Industries does a lot more than manufacture septic tanks, waste water treatment systems and rainwater tanks. We also provide concrete products to a wide range of businesses in the mining, oil, gas, engineering and construction industries.

For a business to decide to work with Ri-Industries to complete a project, we understand that we must first prove that our products and service are worthy. This can be a time consuming and frustrating task for both sides. To save time and effort for everyone, Ri-Industries is pleased to announce that we are now an approved supplier on the Achilles supply chain community.

Supplier number 193731

Achilles is a leading provider of supplier risk management services. Suppliers undergo a strenuous pre-qualification program before they are granted a stamp of approval by Achilles. Buyers and suppliers agree to use one standard supplier questionnaire which eases the pre-qualification process for everyone involved.

Ri-Industries understands that companies are under pressure to maintain strong compliant supply chains that satisfy:

Regulation
Legislation
Their company’s own policies and standards

The Achilles questionnaire simplifies this process and the buyer can trust that the supplier has been fully vetted.

We are proud to be included in the Achilles supply chain community. This, along with our recent TQCSI certifications in Quality, Safety and the Environment give all our customers peace of mind that we are focused on the highest levels of quality and service standards.

To discuss any projects that require pre-cast concrete, please contact us at 08 8444 8100.

Can I Flush This Waste?

Friday, 16 September 2016 by Ri Industries

There is a common misconception that toilets are designed to handle any type of waste. The truth is, just because it’s rubbish doesn’t mean it should be flushed!

While it may be fast and easy to simply flush unwanted matter down the toilet, remember, it does in fact flow somewhere, which in many cases is a septic tank. This means that some matter may turn this fast and easy solution into a big, messy problem!

Septic tanks are designed to break down organic matter. When matter is unable to be broken down, it may clog or damage the system resulting in costly repairs.

Here is a list of items which are frequently flushed, but shouldn’t be:

Bathroom wipes – Wait, what? It even says right on the package that they’re flushable! Yes, it’s true they are advertised as flushable, but some brands degrade better than others. There is also the issue of how many wipes get flushed. Often, it is the quantity of wipes flushed into the septic tank that causes the problem.
Condoms – This is another biggie we hear about. While the toilet may seem like an easy, even natural, disposal method, it is not a smart one. Condoms do not break down and will in time clog the system.
Nappies – While they are filled with waste which can be safely flushed, the nappies themselves absolutely should not be. They are made from materials which are intended to expand when they come in contact with liquid, such as ….. toilet water! The problem here may occur before the nappy even makes it to the septic tank. Most likely it will get caught on the way down.
Cat Litter – This follows the same line of thinking as nappies. It might seem a natural step to flush away the cat’s waste, but along with the waste goes clay, sand, toxin, and parasites that we never want in water systems.
Prescription Medications – People often assume this is the smartest disposal method for prescription medications as it eliminates the concern that the medicine may be taken by someone it wasn’t intended for. Unfortunately, by flushing the medicine, groundwater gets contaminated.

This list is by no means comprehensive. The bottom line is that septic tanks are designed to handle human waste. Anything else should be placed in the rubbish. Ri-Industries are happy to discuss the do’s and don’ts of flushing. Should you have any questions, please call us at 08 8444 8100.

Helpful Household Cleaning Tips: Bathroom Edition

Friday, 2 September 2016 by Ri Industries

Ri-Industries has shared many helpful tips over the years. We’ve offered tips for “green” cleaning, how to care for septic systems, which items should not be flushed down the toilet and more. Today, we share more helpful household cleaning tips.

“I LOVE cleaning the bathroom,” said no one ever! Let’s face it, even for those of us that enjoy cleaning our homes, it’s really difficult to enjoy cleaning the bathroom. No matter how tidy family members are on a daily basis, the bathroom will still be germ-laden. The possibility of your hands coming into contact with something undesirable is rather high. Plus, it often seems that no matter how hard you scrub or how strong the cleaner is, there are just some areas that will not get clean.

Well, we searched the internet for helpful household cleaning tips to make your bathroom sparkle and found the following tips by the experts at Absolute Domestics:

Keep your toilet clean and fresh by scrubbing the inside bowl with toilet cleaner, white vinegar or bi-carb soda. You may want to leave this to soak for a few minutes beforehand. Give a good old scrub with the toilet brush, then flush, rinsing off your toilet brush when flushing. Give both sides of the lid and outside the toilet a wipe over with anti-bacterial cleaner paying attention to the flush button and bottom of the toilet which often get missed.

When you regularly use your bathroom, you’ll often end up with hard water stains on your bathroom taps. These hard water stains can be removed with lemon. Simply rub a fresh lemon over the water stains and not only will shine, it will smell nice too!

Shower scum is made up of mineral deposits (usually calcium and carbonate) and soap scum. To get this off your shower without chemicals use White Magic Eraser or White Vinegar. Simply put white vinegar into a spray bottle and spray onto the shower door, scrub the mixture on the shower screen with and old pair of stockings or a soft bristled brush. Yes you heard right, the denier in stockings gives you that bit of added oomph rather than using a harsh scourer that can etch or scratch your glass. Rinse off with warm water. Squeegee off the excess water and dry with a microfibre cloth or soft towel.

There you go. Three simple tips to help make your bathroom sparkle!

Our other blogs at Ri-Industries contain lots of other tips, or give us a call at 08 8444 8100.

Rainwater Harvesting Information

Friday, 5 August 2016 by Ri Industries

A question has been posed by a number of customers over the course of the past few weeks, so we thought it best to answer the question right here in our blog. The question relates to catching rainwater for harvesting.

To begin, rainwater harvesting is a technique used for collecting, storing and using rainwater for landscape irrigation and other uses. It has become a popular topic of conversation as it can be very beneficial, especially in a dry climate like ours in South Australia (although we appreciate we have just had the wettest July day in 75 years!)
Some benefits of rainwater harvesting are:
• Reduce water bills
• Provide an alternative water supply during water restrictions
• Help maintain a green, healthy garden
• Depending upon the tank size and climate, rainwater harvesting can reduce mains water use by 100%
• Decreases storm water runoff, thereby helping to reduce local flooding.
People have been asking where the rainwater is caught. Rainwater can be collected from most roof types, depending on the quality of rainwater required.
For garden or lawn irrigation:
• collect from any roof material except unsealed asbestos
• ensure all gutters fall towards the outlets
• preferably fit an effective leaf screen to the gutters
• use gutter outlets that fit to the underside of the gutter.
For all other uses, also:
• prevent vegetation from overhanging the roof
• clean the roof and gutters before installing the system
• fit a good quality leaf screen to gutters or use a leaf-shedding gutter.
For drinking water, avoid collecting rainwater:
• from sections of roof containing lead flashing or asbestos sheeting, and from roofs painted with pre-1980 paint. If they cannot be avoided, seal properly by preparing the surface and painting with a suitable potable-quality roof sealant, and do not collect rainwater from the first few rainfall events after sealing
• in areas where airborne toxins are present from nearby activities such as crop-dusting and chemical processing.
Tip:
If no leaf screen is fitted to gutters, fit leaf-shedding rain-heads to the downpipes to intercept leaves and reduce excessive leaf build-up.

Ri-Industries manufactures pre-cast concrete rainwater tanks with the following advantages to non-concrete tanks:
• The water stays cooler.
• No algae develops.
• The water has no after-taste.
• They are bullet proof, vandal-proof and fire-proof.
• Being underground means they are out of sight and don’t take up much of your valuable real estate.
• Above ground tanks can be spray painted to fit in better with your surroundings.
• Concrete is stronger and more durable.
Do you have more questions? Call us at 08 8444 8100 and we will be happy to assist you.

Ri-Industries Now Distributes FujiClean Wastewater Treatment Systems

Thursday, 28 July 2016 by Ri Industries

In order to provide the best options for each of our customers, Ri-Industries is pleased to announce we are now a South Australian distributor of FujiClean wastewater treatment systems. Fibreglass domestic wastewater treatment systems from FujiClean offer an affordable, reliable option for homeowners needing a smaller wastewater treatment system, or where site access is difficult.

Just like our proven Ri-Treat system, the FujiClean CE-1500EX domestic model efficiently converts household wastewater from your kitchen, bathroom and laundry into safe, clean water for re-use around your garden.

These fibreglass tanks are a lightweight alternative to our Ri-Treat concrete tanks, and offer the following advantages:

Proven design and high performance
Simple maintenance and high energy efficiency
An environmentally friendly design, resulting in lower operational cost
Ease of installation in locations where access is difficult or limited
A warranty of 15 years for tanks and 2 years for electrical components.

Why do we feel so strongly about wastewater treatment? Water is a limited resource that is in constant recirculation over time. The water we use today will, eventually, make its way back into our lives tomorrow. Water conservation is vital to ensure our planet has the resources it needs in the years to come.

More information on the FujiClean wastewater system can be found on our website.

If you’d like to learn how a FujiClean wastewater system can benefit your home, please call us at 08 8444 8100.

Certification Approval Panel of TQCS International

Ri-Industries’ New Certifications!

Wednesday, 20 July 2016 by Ri Industries

Quality is of the utmost importance to us so we are honoured to share that Ri-Industries has formally been approved for certification by the Certification Approval Panel of TQCS International in three categories.
TQCS International is a fully accredited, third party certification body providing a number of certifications. Customers can be assured that a certified company is meeting or exceeding international standards.

Ri-Industries certifications include:
• AS 4801: Safety – Demonstrating compliance with internal and external safety systems, including performance, preventive measures and monitoring.
• ISO 9001: Quality – Recognising our compliance in areas including client liaison, internal communication, issue resolution and efforts toward continuous improvement.
• ISO 14001: Environment – Acknowledging our commitment to preserving the environment and preventing pollution.

The certification process is thorough and approval is not easy to achieve. We would like to thank our employees for their dedication and commitment to following strict procedures which ensure we continue to provide safe and quality service to our customers.

Learn more about our certifications, services, and products by calling 08 8444 8100.

Tips for Healthy Septic Tanks

Friday, 17 June 2016 by Ri Industries

There are few things more unpleasant than non-functioning septic tanks. The cost of repair, the inconvenience, and oh …. the smell! No need for excessive worry because maintaining healthy septic tanks can be fairly simple once you are armed with some knowledge. Ri Industries has gathered such knowledge to share with you:

Do not overload your septic system
Use water sparingly
Do only full dishwasher loads, and full washing machine loads, at off-peak times if possible
Do not put kitchen grease down the drain
Do not flush cigarettes, feminine products, disposable nappies, or other inorganic materials down the toilet
Do not put petrol, oil, anti-freeze, paint, paint thinner, pesticides, etc., down the drain
Do not flush medicines
Only use cleaning products approved for septic tanks
Check all plumbing fixtures for leaks.

Learn more about maintaining healthy septic tanks by calling Ri Industries on 08 8444 8100.

Septic Tank FAQ’s

Thursday, 2 June 2016 by Ri Industries

Maintaining a residence or commercial building is a big expense and takes a lot of time. We expect to routinely dust, vacuum, wash floors, garden, and more. Then there are items that we assume are working in the background and will be there for us when we want them: such as electricity and plumbing. Septic tanks fall into that category. We hope once they are installed, they will reliably do their job as we ignore it and go on with our daily lives. The good news is that can almost be true. With some knowledge and maintenance, your septic tank should serve you well with little effort on your part. Ri Industries has collected some of the frequently asked questions by our customers so we can share the helpful answers to keep your septic tank running smoothly.

How often should my septic tank be pumped?

For an average family of 4-6 people your septic tank may have to be de-sludged (pumped out) approximately every 4 years as required by regulations.

Are there materials we should avoid putting in the septic tank?

Septic tanks do not like materials that will not break down e.g. plastic bags, tampons, disposable nappies, condoms, etc. Use biodegradable products whenever possible.

What cleaning products are safe for the septic tank?

The bacterial action of your septic tank can be severely inhibited if excessive amounts of disinfectants are used. Only use products approved for use in septic systems.

Is it safe to flush medicines?

As with certain cleaning products, excessive amounts of medicine can inhibit the bacterial action of the septic tank. It is best not to flush medicines.

I noticed some pooling around the area of the septic tank. What does this mean?

Pooling of effluent near your seepage trench will give you a warning that the system may be clogging up.

With just a little bit of care and maintenance, your septic tank will be one of the items in your home that requires little action on your part. To learn more or ask questions, call Ri Industries on 08 8444 8100.

To Bidet or Not To Bidet?

Thursday, 19 May 2016 by Ri Industries

Bidets are often thought to go hand in hand with the ultra rich, but in recent years environmentalists have sparked a debate over the benefits of bidet usage. Ri Industries would like to offer some of the points of discussion to help you get to the, ahem, bottom of the issue and decide for yourself if using a bidet fits in your environmental plan.

Perhaps your first thought is, wait a minute! Australia has a dangerously dry climate and we work so hard to conserve water. Why on earth would I add water to a dry process that has worked just fine for me? Well that’s a reasonable question. Obviously, using a bidet will increase the amount of water used during each trip to the bathroom, but there are many factors which show using a bidet may actually result in less overall water usage.

Before we expand on the water usage, let’s discuss saving the trees. What? When did trees enter our bathrooms? Trees are wrapped around that spindle in the form of toilet paper. Think about how much toilet paper you use on a daily, weekly, monthly basis. Now multiply that by the number of people in your household, your city, etc. We use a lot of toilet paper. There have been many studies to learn exactly how much and the consensus is that each person uses approximately 1 – 2 rolls of toilet paper per week. That means 1 person uses about 100 rolls per year. 1 pine tree can produce 2000 rolls or enough toilet paper for 20 people per year. In 2015, Australia had an estimated population of 23.9 million people. 11,950 trees will be sacrificed for Australians on a yearly basis. What is the bidets impact on this? Complete elimination of toilet paper, or at the least, a reduction in the use of toilet paper. While the bidet will handle the cleaning aspect, some may still want assistance with the drying process. Of course cloth could be used, but again, some may prefer using something disposable.

So it seems rather clear that using a bidet can reduce paper waste, but let’s go back to water waste. How does a bidet save water if it in fact introduces more water into the bathroom process? The answer brings us back to toilet paper. What you may not realize is just how water intensive the paper manufacturing process is. According to mnn.com, “Even if water used by a mill is locally sourced, rather than drawn from a municipal system, the effluent from paper production invariably finds its way back into the environment. That means a flood of organic waste and chemical residue which must be processed or, worse yet absorbed, after being treated and dumped into some unlucky river or ocean.” Bidets use a fraction a the water used to manufacture toilet paper; even less than manufacturing recycled toilet paper.

These are two of the major points in the debates about the environmental impact of bidets. What are your thoughts? Would you be comfortable using a bidet if it made a positive impact on our environment?

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