How to Create a Rainwater Harvesting System

by Ri Industries Ri Industries No Comments

Congratulations! You’ve done the research and have decided that collecting rainwater is a good decision for your household. Now you need to learn what steps need to be taken in order to begin collecting rainwater.

First,  you must decide which type of storage tank you will use. The experts at Ri-Industries recommend our concrete underground rainwater tanks which offer the following benefits:

  • The water stays cooler.
  • No algae develops.
  • The water has no after-taste.
  • They are vandal-proof and fire-proof.
  • Concrete is stronger and more durable.
  • Being underground means they are out of sight and don’t take up much of your valuable real estate.

Once you’ve decided which type of storage tank you will install, it’s time to think about how you will actually collect the water. House, garage and shed roofs are generally used as catchment areas. 

To keep the rainwater clean, it is important to attach leaf screens to gutters, prevent vegetation from overhanging the roof, and thoroughly clean the roof and gutters before installing. Avoid collecting rainwater from sections of the roof that contain lead flashing or asbestos sheeting, as well as from roofs painted with pre-1980 paint. 

Some extra steps should be taken when using the collected rainwater as drinking water. The Plumbing Code of Australia requires that a testable backflow prevention device is fitted on any mains water supply to the house and tested annually. First flush diverters are recommended for all drinking water systems and are beneficial for systems supplying other internal uses. For garden irrigation supply, their main benefit will be to reduce the need for desludging the tank. Since dust, debris, and bird droppings accumulate on the roof during dry spells, the first rain will wash them off the roof and into your rainwater tank. First flush diverters are designed to prevent the unwanted substances from entering the tank. 

Now that the rainwater has been collected and stored in the tank, you will need a system to bring the water into the house or out to the garden. You have a couple of options to use with the Ri-Industries concrete water tanks. 

A header tank is a great choice for use with an underground tank. It is placed at a higher level than the storage tank. A low-powered pump will transfer the water from the rainwater tank to the header tank, then the water is released using gravity.

A pressure pump is another option which will deliver water at, or near, mains pressure.  You will need to decide between a submersible or free-standing pump and will also need to install a pump controller. 

Collecting rainwater is a fantastic way to save money and resources. The experts at Ri-Industries can help you choose the system that is best for your home. Please call us at 08 8444 8100 with all your questions.

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