When it comes to rainwater harvesting, a simple solution could be putting a bucket or two out in your backyard when it rains. Alternatively, international rainwater harvesting expert Brad Lancaster suggests placing a sponge across a surface to collect even more rain water.
Brad’s suggestions may not seem quite feasible or practical, especially in cities such as Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, but his advice, that “you want basin-like shapes so the water stays instead of going away”, is sound. And the best “basin-like shape” water collection and storage system you can get will have to be a rainwater tank.
Rainwater tanks work by collecting rain water that falls on your roof. Imagine the bucket or two out in your backyard (or a sponge as Brad suggested). Now imagine a giant bucket (or sponge) the size of your roof. That is essentially what your roof is when it rains—if you have a rainwater tank installed: the rain water that falls on your roof is collected and then channeled through the guttering, fed through downpipes and gush into your rainwater tank.
The collected rain water in your rainwater tank can then be redirected to all parts of your home. It can be used to flush your toilet, wash your laundry, clean your car and even water your garden. With a proper filter, it can even provide you with drinking water, making you less reliant on the mains water supply.
Your roof is great dormant resource ready to be used in a bid to address the scarcity of water in a dry and hot country such as Australia. Your roof’s natural incline and the downward drain make it extremely easy to direct rain water into a storage facility like a rainwater tank.
The best part about this is that you don’t have to move mountains to find a space to fit your rainwater tank. SUPATANK has a range of rainwater tanks that are guaranteed to be space efficient, including slimline water tanks that can be installed on either side of the walls or be easily tucked away. And of course, if you lucky enough to have space underneath your home, you can even place your rainwater tank under your deck or underground, which will save you plenty of space. You simply fit a pump to pull the water out.
Purchasing and installing rainwater tanks are not expensive. In fact, they are an excellent investment for your home, especially in a dry country such as Australia, where drinking water is scarce and water restrictions are often in place. Government and local council rebates make it even more affordable to invest in one of the most popular rain water harvesting techniques—redirecting rain water from your roof into a rainwater tank.
