Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting
Catch Water Where It Falls
There is so much more to rainwater harvesting than just buying a tank or two.
WATERfirst can help you choose the installation that is ideal for you.
- One needs to consider where to place the tanks and how much water can you harvest off your roof?
- How much space do you have for installing tanks?
- Placing tanks on the shadier side of your home will keep the water cooler and fresh.
- Remember at school when we learned that 1 litre of water equals 1 kg in weight? Well, that means a full 5,000-litre rainwater tank weighs a hefty 5 tons! It is important to have either a level, compacted area or a concrete slab for the tanks to stand on.
- What guttering do you have in place?
- A flush system will assist in keeping unwanted debris, like leaves, out of your water tanks. This is important because if these go into your tanks it will affect your water quality.
- In addition to this, if the water is intended for human use, a filter system is essential.
- Water is naturally free-flowing and any contained water over time will become stagnant. Make sure you use the water you harvest and regularly add in products to keep your water healthy.
Built To LAst
At WATERfirst, we are all about creating rainwater harvesting solutions that are built to last and are tailored to your specific requirements.
Give us a call – we’ll help you be water smart.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a rainwater tank last?
All tank manufacturing suppliers will have individual warranties/ guarantees. By installing your tank in a shaded area or undercover, you can increase the longevity of your tanks.
What happens when my rainwater tank is full and it is still raining?
An over flow pipe should be installed so that when your tanks are full, the excess water can be directed to a convenient location to drain out.
Should I install a pump for my rainwater tank?
A pump will increase the volume outflow and assist in pressurizing your system, be it for irrigation or for household usage.
Do I need a foundation for my tank?
A concrete plinth or solid level compacted area is necessary. Water tanks get heavy when they fill up! Remembering 1litre of water is the equivalent of 1kg weight.
Where should I place my tanks?
Ideally place your tanks on the shady side of your home. This will increase the longevity of your tanks and keep your water cooler.
How do I keep the water in the tanks clean?
Having a screen and first flush unit installed will keep debris out of the tank. Make sure that the lid is properly closed and that there are no holes that are open for creepy crawlies and such to enter.
What are the advantages of rainwater harvesting?
You can cut down on your municipal water bill by harvesting rain water. Rainwater can be used for general household purposes, watering your garden or to top up your swimming pool. By installing a rainwater harvesting unit, if there is a municipal water outage, you have a backup supply of water.
Why is it important to harvest rainwater?
You can cut down on your municipal water bill by harvesting rain water. Rainwater can be used for general household purposes, watering your garden or to top up your swimming pool. By installing a rainwater harvesting unit, if there is a municipal water outage, you have a backup supply of water.
What is the best method of rainwater harvesting?
The best method of rainwater harvesting is from your roof into tanks or an underground reservoir. Make sure you have the correct guttering installed to maximize the water flowing into your storage units.
How does a rainwater harvesting system work?
Water is harvested from your roof. Having a good guttering system in place ensures your maximum harvesting of water. These gutters are fed into tanks that hold the water for further use.
How effective is rainwater harvesting?
If it rains, then rainwater harvesting is great! Over the dry seasons with little or no rain, your tanks can empty quicker than you realise as we tend to use more water than we think. Rain water harvesting is all about volume. The more water you can store in the rainy seasons the better. Knowing how much water your household is using, what you are using the water for, and understanding the rainfall pattens of the area you live in are important questions to ask and will assist you in installing the right number of tanks for your needs.
How much water can be saved by rainwater harvesting?
1mm of rain landing on an area of 1 square metre of roof surface will give you one litre of water. The more tanks you have to store water when it rains, the better.
Is harvested rainwater drinkable?
Make sure the water entering into your tank is clean with first flush units, screens and properly closing lids and no holes. Adding a good filter system will make the rain harvested water drinkable.
How do I collect rain water?
Having a good guttering system in place will capture rain water from your roof, this then gets channelled into rainwater tanks.
Can you use rain water to shower?
Rainwater, via a pump and filtration system, can be used for showering and general household usage.
How do you build a rainwater harvesting system?
Considerations for building a rainwater harvesting unit are the following: A solid base for the tanks to stand on, good guttering feeding into the tanks and installing first flush systems and screens to prevent debris entering into your tank.
How to clean rain water in my tanks?
Make sure that the tanks are well sealed and no debris has entered the tanks. Adding ecofriendly disinfection products into the tank water will keep it free of pathogens. These products are found at hardware stores.
How do you calculate rainwater harvesting?
1mm of rain landing on an area of 1 square metre of roof surface will give you one litre of water.
What are the disadvantages of rainwater harvesting?
Tanks can only fill up when it rains. Being aware of the amount of water you are using and having the maximum holding capacity is important, this can make the setup of rainwater harvesting expensive.
Is rainwater harvesting worth it?
Absolutely. We rely on water for many functions of our daily lives. By having rainwater tanks installed for daily usage or as a backup in times of municipal water outages, long-term, installing a rainwater harvesting system is of great value.