Rainwater harvesting is a process in which the rainwater that falls in your roofs at home is put in storage and recycled. The runoff from your catchment area, which is your roofs, will be carried out by gutters and piping, then passes through the filters of your tank. This keeps the stored rainwater free from contaminants for future use.
Given the important role of the tank, its quality will also determine the quality of stored rainwater. Knowing the details of the proper harvesting standards will help you in choosing the right tank that is suitable for your home.
Size
A rainwater tank can be small or large. It is advisable to install large ones in your home if you have no admission to any water distributor. Just one large tank can already hold over 10,000 liters! With this capacity, you can consider it as a replacement for municipal water supply. On the other hand, installing a small water tank is perfectly acceptable when you have limited space on your property.
That said, choosing the right size of the rainwater tank also depends on available vertical as well as horizontal space of your property. You need to also consider calculating the amount of rainfall that can be gathered based on the size of your catchment area.
Location
The rainwater tank can be installed either below the ground or above the ground. Underground tanks are the best solution if you have landscape design concerns. However, if you have a wider space in your home and you don’t mind a visible rainwater tank in your property, then you can consider an under deck tank instead. Also, take note, it is better to install it near your downpipes so it would be easy for the rainwater to flow.
Material
Choosing the right material for your rainwater tank is important because it will affect in rainwater collection. Tanks can be made of plastic (poly), steel, concrete or fiberglass. Plastic rainwater tanks or poly tanks are non-corrosive, lightweight and easy to handle. Steel rainwater tanks, however, have a shorter life because it will corrode easily (especially when there’s no corrosion protection). Concrete rainwater tanks are strong and can be used for long-term. Still, they’re quite heavyweight and tough to handle. Fiberglass rainwater tanks have thin walls that can manage water pressure but cracking and leaking would be an issue.
Shape
Rainwater tank can be circular or rectangular in shape. A Rectangular shaped tank is modular, meaning it can fit easily to most yards. However, circular tanks have their own advantage because they lack the corners that are prone to bacteria and algae.
Knowing the details of the rainwater harvesting tank is very important because it will affect your rainwater collection. For better results, choosing the right tank to be installed in your place is a must. On top of that, professional tank installers can also help you in choosing the right tank for you.
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