How to Prevent Mosquitoes From Breeding in Rain Water Tanks

by Ri Industries

You may think of mosquitoes simply as a nuisance that come with warmer weather, but they can actually be much more than a nuisance – they can be a health risk. Mosquitoes can transmit serious diseases such as malaria, Zika virus, dengue fever and more. They breed in standing water which means your gutters, pipes, and rainwater tanks Adelaide are ideal environments for them. But don’t worry, there are some simple solutions to help keep the mosquitoes at bay and reduce the health risk to you and your family. 

 

  • ‘Over the gutter mesh’ can be fitted to the gutters to keep leaves and debris from gathering and pooling water. The holes in the mesh should match the size of the leaves in the area. If gutter mesh is not an option, keep trees well trimmed and clean the gutters on a regular basis.
  • Place mosquito-proof screens where the pipe that carries water to the rainwater tank meets the gutter. This will help keep leaves and debris from piling up causing stagnant water.
  • Where the pipe meets the tank, install a mosquito-proof, self-closing flap valve.
  • Use mosquito-proof mesh on the inlets and overflow on the tank. Sealing the overflow can reduce the incidence of mosquitoes by two-thirds—even if the inlet is poorly sealed.
  • Check and clean the first flush device of your rainwater collection system every three months
  • Regularly inspect the mesh to ensure it is in good condition and if it’s not, replace it.
  • Divert overflow water to a covered drain. When the overflow drains to a grassy area, the water can pool and become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. 

 

Taking the above precautions should help to reduce mosquitoes, but what happens if they do manage to get into your tank? 

 

You will know that mosquitoes have been breeding if you see larvae wriggling on the surface of the collected water. First, remove and discard the larvae. Then, find where the mosquitoes entered your system and fix the issue. Inspect the tank, mesh, pipe, and gutters. 

 

Ri-Industries concrete rainwater tanks are made from high frequency vibrated reinforced concrete using the highest quality of materials. Steel mesh is cast into the rainwater tanks and lids, and all fittings are made from brass – to give additional peace of mind. Please call our office, 8444 8100, to learn more about our rainwater tanks, delivery, and installation.

How to Create a Rainwater Harvesting System

by Ri Industries

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.

Tips for Planting Around a Septic Tank

by Ri Industries

Do you feel that? That’s the sun shining down and warming us up after a cold winter. And sunshine and warmth mean it’s time to start thinking about gardening. For those of us with septic tanks, that means thinking about the plants around your septic tank. How do you know where to plant and what to plant around your septic tank? That’s simple, you ask the experts at Ri-Industries for some tips.

Tip #1: No thirsty plants or trees with deep roots. The root system of water-loving shrubs can become entangled in the pipes of your septic system if planted too close to your drainage field and cause problematic clogging. The root system provides a tree’s primary way of absorbing water, and those roots will extend toward the most abundant source of water in your yard. This means that if a tree is planted too close to a septic system, its roots will grow in the direction of the wet drainage field around it.

Tip #2: It is NEVER safe to plant fruits and vegetables over the septic tank! Eating them might entail ingesting harmful bacteria and you certainly do not want to take that risk.

Tip #3: There is no reason to leave the ground above the septic tank bare. In fact, it is actually advisable to plant the right kind of vegetation to help prevent erosion. Perennials, annuals, and grasses have shallow roots and are good choices to cover the septic tank area. Willow Myrtle trees, Swamp Oak trees, River Red Gum trees, Papyrus shrubs, and Oleander shrubs make particularly good choices to plant near the septic tank.

Septic tanks are not only costly to install, but they provide a very necessary function for your home. It is in your best interest to take heed when planning the landscaping above and around the septic tank to avoid damage, costly repairs, and the extreme inconvenience that accompanies a non-working septic tank.

Ri-Industries produces concrete septic tanks and septic tank lids of the highest quality that are built to last. A septic tank from Ri-Industries delivers many benefits:

  • Engineer-designed and built from fine tolerance steel moulds
  • All horizontal tanks engineered to a maximum depth of 900mm
  • Manufactured from 40 MPa concrete to give additional strength and durability
  • Internally, all joints are sealed, reducing the potential for leakages
  • Available in 14 different sizes, for maximum flexibility
  • Child-proof and vandal-proof concrete lids on our septic tanks give you additional peace of mind – also available as stand-alone replacement lids

For more information, please call 08 8444 8100.

Septic System Care for the Holidays

by Ri Industries

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

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!

How Do Bathroom Habits Differ Between Men and Women?

by Ri Industries

Ri Industries specialises in septic and waste water systems, among other things, so we often speak about things that take place in the bathroom. A frequent theme in the conversations is the difference between the habits of men and the habits of women while taking care of their personal needs.

It seems the common perception is that men are not quite as clean as women. Imagine our surprise when we came across a recent study which finds this common perception may not be true. Here are some of the findings from the recent research conducted by Initial Hygiene.

Washing hands at work:

  • 43 per cent of women believed men do not wash their hands at work while 89 per cent of men believed women do wash their hands at work. The study found that 96 per cent of men and women wash their hands with soap at work.

Wipe before sitting:

  • 77 per cent of men clean the toilet seat before sitting while only 59 per cent of women do. How about cleaning the seat after their use? 52 per cent of men and 42 per cent of women take the time to do so.

Lowering the lid:

  • 69 per cent of men lower the lid before flushing compared to 62 per cent of women.

Freshening up:

  • The perceptions on this one might be accurate. 84 per cent of women take time to tweak their appearance in the bathroom while only 70 per cent of men do so.

As it turns out, men may actually be more hygienic than women. Psychologist Emma Kenny, says it appears men have a ‘real understanding of the importance of bathroom cleanliness’ despite negative assumptions placed upon them. ‘Men are instinctually protective and territorial and these natural predilections could well be why they take care when using their own and others toilets,’ she said.

So there you have it. As a business that employs a number of men, we feel it is our duty to share this research and spread the word about the admirable hygiene of men.