Designing a Rainwater System
A detailed guide to help you design your Hydrowall system
This is a detailed guide to includes a rainwater calculator to help you design your Hydrowall system.
Rainwater Tanks In Australia
Australians love water, but unfortunately we just don't have enough to go around anymore. With a drier climate and a growing population it is clear that our current water supply in Australia is not sufficient so we are left with 2 options:
Use less water
OR
find more water
We can all try to save water, but the fact is that we need to water the garden, fill the swimming pool and flush the toilet. So it seems that if we want to keep the standard of living we are accustomed to, then we need to find more water.
Good news! It's all around us! We don't need to spend billions of dollars on desalination plants or recycling sewerage. The easiest way to do that is by simply collecting the water that lands on your roof and storing it in a water tank. Most places in Australia get more than enough rainfall each year for each home to collect enough water to keep them going most of the year. Obviously this depends on how big your roof is, how big your water tank is and how much water you use. But, even if you could collect just 20% of the water you use each year into a water tank it would make a big difference to the amount of water we use in Australia.
Introducing Hydrowall Modular Water Tanks and Wall Panel
With a Hydrowall system of modular water tanks, you can easily store any volume of water from 300L to 300,000L or more! With increasing water restrictions and rising water prices, a tank can ensure you have water all year and even save you money in the long run.
The other great thing about the Hydrowall Water Tank is that its patented design means that it can be clad in whatever material you like so it fits in with the rest of your home. The slimline width of just 300mm also means you don't lose valuable space in your backyard.
The added benefit of Hydrowall is that it is also approved for structural (load bearing) use. It can replace standard materials like brick or timber frame walls, and is erected in a fraction of the time. Hydrowall is approved for residential applications under the Codemark scheme, which means it meets all the criteria for the building code of Australia (BCA).
Hydrowalls are designed for Australian conditions and is also Australian owned and operated. You can make a difference! Installing a rainwater tank is one of the easiest and most effective ways to save water. Rainwater (provided you take a few simple precautions) is cleaner, purer and usually tastes better than your mains tap water. Best of all it's free!
Selecting a Rainwater Tanks for Australia
Before you buy your Hydrowalls, you need to decide how much water you need. Ask yourself a few questions and use the tables to determine your storage requirements.
How much water do I use?
What do I use the water for? (gardening, washing, drinking?)
How much do I rely on it (Do I have mains backup)
How much rain do I get?
How much water can I collect (how big is my roof?)
How often does it rain?
Pool Evaporation Rates (litres per square metre)
Factors influencing evaporation rates
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Pool Cover reduces evaporation between 20- 90% depending on type
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Exposure to wind will increase evaporation. Protection from wind will decrease it. A gentle breeze can DOUBLE the evaporation rate by constantly removing the layer of humid air directly above the surface of the pool.
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Air temperature:
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Humidity. Dry air (low humidity) will increase evaporation
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Usage. Using the pool will increase the evaporation. Splashing and getting out will remove water. Broken/ wavy water (either by use, filtration or wind) can increase the evaporation rate.
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Pool temperature. Heated pools will evaporate more. The hotter it is, the more it will evaporate.
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Rainfall. Rain will top up the pool but doesn't affect the evaporation rate.
Rainfall Averages
Rainwater Calculator
Calculating the Tank Size
To calculate the size of the tank you need and the number of Hydrowall modules, you will need to have a look at how often it rains (the period between significant rain). How much water you use, and what will happen if you run out of water? If you have mains water then it is not a big problem because you can switch to mains water if you run out. But, if you rely solely on rainwater then you will need to factor in periods of drought or little rain.
The time between significant rain is a bit of a guess, and you will need to use your best guess based on your past experience. You can also use the rainfall table to give you a better idea of the amount of rain you get and when. Don’t forget these are AVERAGES, so a worst case scenario could be DOUBLE, possibly more.
To Calculate how much water you need
To calculate how much water you consume, use the table above. You can either be general and simply use the ‘average household’ figure divide by 12 (12 months in the year) or if you want to be more specific adjust the figures to what you think is appropriate. Keep in mind that you will use more water on your garden in Summer, and if you have a pool or ponds then that can change your usage too. The number of people in your home will also improve your usage.
To calculate the tank size you need Period of no significant rain (days) x Daily Consumption (L)= Tank Size
Example: You live in Adelaide and during Summer you can remember the time it hasn’t rained for four weeks (30 days). You have a family of 4 but will use the rainwater for the lawn and garden only.
Daily Consumption: Lawn and Garden= (90,000 + 55,000) / 365 = 402L per day
Storage Reserve Required: 30 days x 402L = 12,060 L
Hydrowalls (590L/ 2.4m module) needed: 12,060 / 590L = 20 modules
To calculate how much water you can collect each year or month, use the following calculation:
Annual or Monthly Rainfall (mm) x Roof Size (m²) x run-off percentage (%)* - any first flush (L)= Maximum Harvest Volume *
‘run- off Percentage’ is the percentage of the total roof area that is used for collection.
Step by Step Calculation:
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Locate the area on the table above closest to where you live. If you are calculating a figure for the monthly rainfall, then select the month you want. Otherwise use the annual figure.
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Calculate your total roof size in m² (length x width).
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Calculate the run-off percentage (the percentage of the roof area that actually collects water)
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Estimate any other losses you have from diverters, leaks or other reasons
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Put the figures into the calculation above and determine the maximum amount of water you will collect for the period.
Example: Your house in Broome has a 100m² roof. But you can't collect the water from the gutters on one side of the house. You estimate this to be 25% of the roof area, which means your catchment area is 75m². You also have a Superhead first flush device that will discard 30L each time it rains.
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The annual rainfall for Broome is 599.2mm.
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Roof area is 100m².
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Run- off percentage is 75%.
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Diverter discards 30L each time it rains, and you estimate is rains 50 times per year, So 50 x 30 = 1500L.
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CALCULATION: 599.2 x 100 x 0.75 - 1500= 43,425 litres can be collected each year.
PLEASE NOTE: These are basic calculations intended for estimating purposes only and do not take into account rainfall intensity, frequency or duration. For important applications, you should consider engaging a qualified civil engineer to assist with your calculations.
Rainwater System Design
Now you know how many tanks you need you can plan your rain harvesting system. Things to consider are:
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Space requirements
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Distance from garden and/ or plumbing
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Location of trees etc that may affect water quality
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Visual impact
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Distance from gutters/ downpipes
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Connection to existing plumbing
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The use of filtration devices- gutter screens, first flush rainwater filters, rain- heads, outlet filtration.
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Pumps if required (you will probably need a pump if connecting to household plumbing)
Rainwater Health Issues
Installing and maintaining a Hydrotank is very simple. However, you need to be aware of the potential hazards of storing water, especially if you are using it as drinking water. Some councils don't recommend drinking rainwater so check to see if there are any restrictions first before you buy a tank. Most problems occur because of dirt and pollutants from the roof building up and being washed into the water. Prevention is better than cure when it comes to rainwater tanks. By keeping your roofs and gutters clean and using suitable filters like the Superhead Diverter can prevent most problems. Below is a list of the common problems and ways to prevent or treat them:
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Bird and Animal Droppings
Prune overhanging branches and keep tank covers closed and seal gaps to prevent access. Use a first- flush filter to discard the first few litres of rain collected.
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Mosquitoes and insects
Protect inlets and overflows with mosquito proof mesh. Prevent water from pooling and stagnating such as near the overflow or in gutters.
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Lead Contamination
Check for and remove lead paints and primers on roof and gutters (pre 1970’s).
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Rust and corrosion
(rotten egg or sewerage odours) Rusty gutters and downpipes can taint the water. This is from low pH caused by contact between leaves and metals for long periods so clean gutters regularly.
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Bacterial Growth
(Musty, fishy or ‘rotten egg’ smells, or small white flakes) Some bacteria (biofilms) are OK, but some others are bad. Anaerobic growth in the sediment at the bottom of the tank is usually not good so try to minimise sediment entering the tank and keep the water oxygenated by using it regularly. Also, make sure no light can enter the tank. Chemicals can also be added to treat bacterial growth. Most caravan or boat shops will sell a range of chemicals for treating water tanks.
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Coloured water
Caused by leaves rotting on roofs and gutters, or from sediment coming from the roof tiles or paint. Keep the gutters clean and use a first-flush filter.
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Slime
A light coating of slime (bio-film) is standard and useful for maintaining the quality of water. Heavy slime may be a concern and should be treated with chemicals.
Maintenance
The Hydrowall Sytem low maintenance provided steps are taken to minimise sediment and pollution entering the tank. The slimline design makes it difficult to inspect the inside of the tank so all the more reason to prevent problems occurring.The main problems are usually caused when things like leaves collect on your roof and gutter. They will start to rot and breakdown making them easier to get washed into the tank. The rotting process can also encourage bacteria and insects to breed. So by merely keeping the gutters clean you can make sure your tank is clean and safe. You can even cut a range of devices like the Superhead to help keep your gutters clean.
Rainwater harvesting works on a cycle. Most of us will get rain in the winter months, and preceding that is Summer and Autumn when there is a little rain, and the leaves are falling off the trees. So a bit of common sense says that Autumn is a good time to check that the roof and gutters are clean. Also, let the first rain wash all the dust and dirt off the roof if it hasn’t rained for a while. You should regularly try and use the water stored in tanks to prevent it stagnating and growing unfriendly algae and bacteria. This won’t be a problem if it is plumbed into your toilet and laundry, but if you are just using it for the garden then try to use a little every week.