The availability of space is a very important factor which will determine the placement of your rainwater tank, and the ground rainwater tanks occupy more space than those installed below ground. These underground water storage tanks save space and don't get in your way. Weather changes are not a big problem for underground tanks.
An underground tank system can usually be built to hold any amount of water required. The sub surface location of the tank frees up space for landscaping or a driveway while ensuring optimal conditions for retaining water. Water management in any kind of soils is possible.
There are some disadvantages to having a tank built underground. Firstly, you need a pump to extract the water, which is not the case for above ground tanks, as gravity does all the work for you. Second, any leaks and malfunctions are difficult to detect; this becomes much easier when you can clearly see every part of the above ground tank. Next, tree roots can hamper the structure of underground water storage tanks and can contaminate the water. You must have a cover for your underground tank to prevent soil, faeces and pesticides entering the water during rains. Above ground tanks need not necessarily be covered, although some are as an added precaution. Maintenance of the above ground tanks is also a little easier.
However, a lot of the problems that you have with above ground tanks are not applicable to underground tanks. Torrential rains, wind and fire as well as extremes of hot and cold do not harm tanks built underground.
Many people choose to have their tanks installed above ground, just because it is a simpler operation and takes less time. But underground pools are ideal for people who have large water needs, such as a swimming pool to fill. Maybe they have a large area under a deck which would be ideal for a rainwater tank. Other options are underneath driveways, pergolas or under sheds. A below ground tank is usually constructed of concrete but can also be made of poly plastic.
One interesting combination is to have your tank both above and below the ground. That is, the tank is partly submerged, often placed along a fence line, so that a larger tank can be installed, without marring the aesthetic appearance of the home.
Rainwater tanks should be installed by a qualified and experienced plumber. If space is at a premium, underground tanks make an excellent choice. Rainwater harvesting system elements are made of long lasting materials resistant to rusting and chemical contamination, and have a simple technical structure. This makes maintenance and cleaning a very simple procedure.
By installing underground water storage tanks, you will be more than halving your water bills and also conserving this precious resource. Only 1% of daily water consumption is used for drinking, and a further small percentage for personal hygiene and cooking. So a lot of the water consumed does not need to be of high quality. This is why installing a rainwater tank makes perfect sense. It can be used for gardening, car washing, toilet flushing and general household cleaning. It makes financial sense and is great for conserving resources.
Understanding the conditions of the world's water supplies is important if you want to be a good world citizen. But the fact is Australians need to look at their own country and realize there is a water shortage right in their backyard. Unfortunately, the continent is abnormally dry on a regular basis and the situation has been made worse by El Nino and global warming.
The only way the water shortage can be adequately addressed is if each person takes personal responsibility for water conservation. Water used for outdoor purposes is a natural first focus, because it is relatively easy to collect rainwater for re-use.
When you decide it is time to make an action plan to reduce your water consumption, the first step is learning how to determine current water usage. Up to 30% of all household water is used outdoors. Outdoor water is used on lawns and gardens, to wash autos, top off swimming and decorative pools, and for cleaning driveways or the house itself. Choosing the right sized underground water tank depends on correctly calculating your water needs.
Typically Speaking
Typically speaking, watering a lawn for an hour takes 1,000 litres. Yes...it takes a 1,000 litres to run a sprinkler for an hour. So if you are watering your lawn several times a week, it is easy to see how large quantities of water can be used regularly.
Even just washing the car can use 200 litres. Hosing down the driveway or washing the gutters out on the house may use 100 litres each. A few hundred litres here and there soon turn into thousands of litres of water.
When you are trying to decide what size tank you need to install for collecting rainwater, the first thing you have to do is calculate your total outdoor water needs. While you are doing this it is also important to consider ways you can reduce your water consumption. But the fact is you need to purchase a tank that is adequate for your current outdoor water consumption purposes or you will not have enough water to keep your yard and gardens healthy.
In addition, when it rains in Australia, it can literally pour. You want to have a large enough tank to collect as much rain as possible, because you never know for sure when it will rain underground water detector again. By installing the right size underground water storage tank, you know you will be storing all the rainwater possible for future use.
Filling the Tank
The calculation for filling your underground concrete water tanks is simple. You can figure that every 1mm of rain water flowing from on square meter of roof area will create 1 litre of stored water. You can figure the size of your roof and then multiply that by the amount of rain that falls on a typical basis.
Installing an underground water storage is a great way to make your personal contribution to the protection of natural resources while also being able to maintain your property. Anyone can easily calculate their typical outdoor water usage and then choose the right tank size.
Australia is a land of people who have always been able to meet every challenge. There is no doubt we will be able to continue to do so in the future.