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Concrete Rainwater Tanks – What are the Benefits?

by Ri Industries

Get your rainwater tank in time for the ‘rainy season’ in South Australia. We get most of our
rainfall during the winter months of June, July and August, so now is a great time to get
prepared. Let’s look at some of the benefits of using a Ri-Industries concrete rainwater tank.
Rainwater harvesting is a technique used for collecting, storing and using rainwater for
landscape irrigation and other uses. It’s popular in South Australia due to its numerous benefits
such as:

● Reduces water bills
● Provides an alternative water supply during water restrictions
● Helps maintain a green and 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.
● Rainwater causes less erosion to household appliances due to their low salinity content
● Rainwater is softer than mains water which may mean you use less soap, detergent, and
shampoo.

What are the benefits of our concrete rainwater tank? Concrete rainwater tanks offer a number
of advantages:

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

How much water can be saved using our concrete rainwater tanks? A family of four with a
100m² roof catchment area and a 1000L tank can capture enough rainwater in one year to:

● Flush a toilet 2X/day per person
● Fill a 150L tub to provide a bath for one person per week

● Run a sprinkler system for one hour 5X/week
● Use dishwasher every day
● Give a 5 minute shower to each person 2X/week

Good for the environment + saves money = a great investment! Call us at 08 8444 8100 to
speak with one of our experts and learn about installing a concrete rainwater collection tank at your home.

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Lawn Care and Gardening Tips for Summer in Adelaide

by Ri Industries

Now it’s summer, we thought we would round up some lawn care and gardening tips to share with you. The summer growing season is, generally speaking, from December to February. In some Australian climates, it may begin as early as November or end as late as March, so checking your local climate is a great place to start. 

Why does ri-industries.com.au write articles about lawn care and gardening? Because we want to help everywhere we can! Our tips can help you reduce water bills and properly care for your septic system. 

Let’s talk about conserving water and reducing bills. 

  • A simple step to take is to water early in the morning or overnight. Watering while the temperature is relatively cool allows the lawn and garden the chance to fully absorb the water. Watering late in the day can produce humidity overnight which can lead to the development of fungus.
  • Water the garden only when it needs to be watered. How will you know? Stick your finger about 4 cm into the soil, and if the soil is not moist, it’s time to water.
  • Be thorough when watering the garden. Flower beds can do just fine when watered just once or twice per week as long as it’s a good, thorough soak. 
  • Did you know that you can reuse waste water to water the lawn via sub surface irrigation and garden? The surface irrigation disposal area must be dedicated to the sole use of effluent disposal. The area must be landscaped, preferably with salt tolerant shrubs and trees and should be designed to discourage pedestrian and vehicle access. The Ri-Treat Waste Water System works to clean and reuse your waste water from the toilet, kitchen, and laundry to irrigate your garden. This system is a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly way to keep your garden looking green and healthy.
  • Collect rainwater and use it to water the lawn and garden. Our article How to Water Your Garden With Water Collected in a Rainwater Tank talks about the benefits of using a rainwater tank and how to use it.

Now let’s talk about lawn and garden tips to help protect the septic system.

  • Be mindful of the septic tank soakaway. A septic tank soakaway is a series of underground, perforated pipes that allow septic tank effluent to soakaway over a large area. A lawn is the best cover for the soakaway. It will help prevent soil erosion while adding beauty to the landscape. When planting, do not dig too deep and be sure to wear gloves to protect against bacteria that may be in the soil.
  • Know what/what not to plant around a septic tank. First, do not plant anything with deep roots or anything that will be super thirsty. Second, don’t ever plant fruits or vegetables over the septic tank! Third, it’s recommended to plant the right kind of vegetation over the septic tank such as perennials, annuals, and grass. 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. Learn more in our articles Tips for Planting Around a Septic Tank and Tips for Planting Over Septic Drain Fields.

As you can see, we care about providing quality products which benefit the environment as well as you. Our experts will be happy to speak with you and the products that can best suit your needs. Please call us at 08 8444 8100.

 

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Rainwater Harvesting Will Help Conserve Water and Lower Costs

by Ri Industries

Rainwater harvesting is an excellent way to conserve water and lower expenses. The rainfall we’ve been seeing in South Australia makes this a great time to learn about rainwater harvesting and see if it’s something you’d like to do. 

First, let’s answer the question, ‘What is rainwater harvesting?’. Simply put, it’s collecting and storing rain for later use. So now, let’s take a look at how the water can be used and how it is collected. 

Harvested rainwater provides clean water where water is scarce or polluted. It can be used to flush toilets, do laundry, water the garden, wash cars, and more. However, if you want to be able to drink the water, the system must be designed, operated, and maintained to ensure the water quality is suitable. 

It’s often thought that rainwater harvesting is only done in rural areas. In fact, many urban households harvest rainwater to significantly lower mains water usage. According to www.sa.gov.au, “South Australian building rules require that new dwellings and some extensions or alterations, have an additional water supply to supplement mains water. The most common way to meet the additional water supply requirement is to install plumbed minimum-sized rainwater tanks.”

Is harvesting rainwater more costly than only using mains water? No! Once the tank is installed and your water use is supplemented by the harvested rainwater, your water bills should be lower. After all, rainwater is free!

Harvested rainwater is collected from various hard surfaces such as rooftops and/or other man made above ground hard surfaces. The water is stored in a tank. The below diagram (credit: treehugger.com) shows how rainwater harvesting works.

Ri-Industries manufactures underground concrete rainwater tanks. Concrete rainwater tanks offer a number of advantages:

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

Our rainwater tanks are built to stand the test of time. They’re 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. We also have full engineering approval for below ground tanks. This means you can rest easy knowing that a Ri-Industries rainwater tank will serve you well, wherever it is installed. We can also custom make inlets and outlets to suit your specific requirements. 

Are you ready to conserve water and save money? Call us at 08 8444 8100 and let know how we can help you!

 

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Rainwater Tanks for Homes in South Australia

by Ri Industries

Rainwater tanks are the most common way to meet the additional water supply requirements that South Australian building rules need for new dwellings and some extensions or alterations. So, what should you look for in a rainwater tank and what can the collected water be used for? Ri-Industries has the answers.

What to look for in a rainwater tank:

  • Covers are essential to help avoid children and/or animals from getting inside the tank. They also help reduce water evaporation and deters algae growth which can result when sunlight enters. 
  • Underground or Above ground? The choice is yours! Above ground tanks can be easier to install because you don’t have to excavate a space for them first. However, they can take up valuable room. Underground rainwater tanks can save a lot space and can be installed in smaller properties where the size of the property would otherwise prohibit the use of a tank. They are often installed underneath driveways and are a popular choice for new home developments.
  • Where will it go? Ri-Industries are experts in underground rainwater tanks and our experts can help you determine the ideal location to install your underground rainwater tank. 
  • Rainwater tanks definitely fall into the category of something you want to last. Our concrete tanks are designed and built to do just that. They also come with a  manufacturers warranty to give additional piece of mind. 

How to use the water collected in rainwater tanks:

  • Hot water systems
  • Laundry
  • Toilets
  • Irrigation

One of the most frequently asked questions we hear is whether or not it’s safe to drink water from the rainwater tank. The answer is no, unless a filtration system is added to first purify the water. The collected water may contain emissions from vehicles/industry and the cleanliness (or lack thereof) of the gutters it flows through also play a factor. 

When you are interested in learning more about rainwater tanks or are ready to purchase, please give Ri-Industries a call on 08 8444 8100.

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Best Plants for Xeriscaping

by Ri Industries

Last month we spoke about the benefits of xeriscaping and how to get started in our article ‘Xeriscaping: Benefits and How to Start’. We shared that choosing plants which are native to the region in which you live is the best option for a xeric garden. In this article, we’ll discuss what those plants are. 

To provide you with the best information we can, we went straight to the experts at SA Water. The first thing to consider is soil type and local environment:

  1. Coastal settings tend to have alkaline sandy soils
  2. Plains regions tend to have alkaline loam over clay  
  3. Hills tends to have acidic sandy loam over clay and higher rainfall

Sawater.com.au offers their top picks for the South Australian region:

Coastal (Species, Common Name, Lifeform) – 

  • Kunzea pomifera, Muntries, Mat
  • Myoporum parvifolium (broadleaf form), Creeping Boobialla, Mat
  • Goodenia varia, Sticky Goodenia, Groundcover
  • Chrysocephalum apiculatum, Common Yellow Button, Herb
  • Lepidosperma gladiatum, Coast Sword-sedge, Sedge
  • Thomasia petalocalyx, Paper-flower, Shrub
  • Rhagodia parabolica, Fragrant Saltbush, Shrub
  • Grevillea ilicifolia, Holly-leaf Grevillea, Shrub
  • Eucalyptus minniritchi, Minniritchi Mallee, Small tree
  • Allocasuarina verticillata, Drooping She-oak, Tree

 

Plains (Species, Common Name, Lifeform) – 

  • Myoporum parvifolium (broadleaf form), Creeping Boobialla, Mat
  • Scaevola albida, Fan-Flower, Mat
  • Chrysocephalum apiculatum, Common Yellow Button, Herb
  • Pycnosorus globosus, Billy-buttons, Herb
  • Lomandra multiflora ssp. dura, Iron-grass, Sedge
  • Thomasia petalocalyx, Paper-flower, Shrub
  • Rhagodia parabolica, Fragrant Saltbrush, Shrub
  • Grevillea ilicifolia, Holly-leaf Grevillea, Shrub
  • Correa glabra var. turnbullii, Smooth Correa, Shrub
  • Eucalyptus minniritchi, Minniritchi Mallee, Small tree
  • Allocasuarina verticillata, Drooping She-oak, Tree
  • Acacia melanoxylon, Blackwood, Tree
  • Myoporum petiolatum, Sticky Boobialla, Shrub

 

Hills (Species, Common Name, Lifeform) – 

  • Scaevola albida, Fan-Flower, Mat
  • Pultenaea pedunculata, Matted Bush-pea, Mat
  • Grevillea lavandulacea ssp. lavandulacea, Heath Grevillea, Groundcover
  • Correa decumbens, Spreading Correa, Groundcover
  • Chrysocephalum apiculatum, Common Yellow Button, Herb
  • Mentha diemenica, Slender mint, Herb
  • Lomandra multiflora ssp. dura, Iron-grass, Sedge
  • Correa glabra var. turnbullii, Smooth Correa, Shrub
  • Myoporum petiolatum, Sticky Boobialla, Shrub
  • Allocasuarina verticillata, Drooping She-oak, Tree
  • Acacia melanoxylon, Blackwood, Tree
  • Callitris rhomboidea, Oyster Bay Pine, Tree

Your local nursery can also assist you in choosing the best plants for your area. We’d love to hear which plants you choose, so please let us know on our Facebook page!

 

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Xeriscaping – Benefits and How to Start

by Ri Industries

Regular readers of our articles may remember ‘The Benefits of Xeriscaping’ article we published in August of 2019. After reading the most recent drought report by the Australian Government of Meteorology, we thought now would be a good time to once again discuss xeriscaping. 

According to the May 2022 drought report, rainfall in April of 2022 was below average for western Tasmania, coastal south-eastern South Australia, south-western Victoria, and a large area of Central Australia spanning the south-west of the Northern Territory and interior of Western Australia. Serious rainfall deficiencies (totals in the lowest 10% of historical observations since 1900) are affecting parts of southern Australia for the period starting December 2021. 

Why did this information lead us to write about xeriscaping? Because xeriscaping is landscaping designed specifically for areas that are susceptible to drought, or for properties where water conservation is practiced. Creating outdoor spaces which require little water is not only good for the environment, but it’s also good for your bank account!

There are more benefits than just reducing the amount of water used on lawn, trees, plants, and shrubs. It also reduces pollution since pesticides and fertilisers are not needed and it also removes the need for mowing. One of the best benefits is the ease of maintenance. Less water needed means less time fussing with hoses and sprinklers and the types of plants used typically grow slowly meaning less time spent pruning and trimming. 

How to get started with your xeric garden? 

  1. Determine the best location. Will you remove the entire lawn or just sections? Areas that are least used tend to be the best location for growing these types of plants. 
  2. Group plants by the amount of water they will need. Phgmag.com recommends three zones: 
    1. Zone One (Oasis Zone) – The oasis zone has the most water-dependent plants and requires more maintenance than other zones. 
    2. Zone Two (Transition Zone) – The transition zone requires less watering and maintenance than the oasis zone but has more needs than the xeric zone. 
    3. Zone Three (Xeric Zone) – The xeric zone requires very little water and maintenance.
  3. Replace lawn with mulch, rocks, gravel or a combination.
  4. Choose plants native to the region where you live and learn how drought-resistant each is. 
  5. Determine how to irrigate the garden. A drip irrigation system is often a good choice. 
  6. Make sure you are working with good soil as it will hold water well, provide nutrients, and properly aerate to allow water to reach deep roots. 

Now that you’ve planned your xeric garden, you’re well on your way to helping the environment and saving time, energy, and money.  Stay tuned for our next article which will discuss best choices of plants for South Australia.