6 Things You Need to Know Before Buying a Water Tank

1. Advantages of a Rainwater Tank
Everyone needs water. Individuals choose to have their own rainwater for variety of different reasons. Here is a list of popular reasons why Australians save rainwater:

"As backup water - just in case it doesn't come out of the tap for some reason" "It's our only source of water" "It hasn't been chemically treated" "It's free" "To be 'waterwise' - it helps save the enviroment" "It's natural" "My garden loves it" "I save heaps on my water rates bill" "A cup of tea made with filtered rainwater - nothing tastes better" "It's fresher and cleaner than tapwater" "There's no fluoride or chlorine" "It makes sense"

...and you probably have your own reasons, as well.

2. Choosing a Rainwater Tank
Once you've decided to get a rainwater tank, the size of the tank you will need depends on:

Rainfall in your area Roof area available for the downpipe/s channeling the water How much rainwter your household will use on average per day

3. How Much Water Do I Use?
For a guide to the average amount of rainwater you will use per day, apply the following information to the areas you plan to use rainwater.

This information is provide courtesy of Brisbane Water, Brisbane City Council, and is intended as a guide only. See "The Many Uses of Wonderful Rainwater".

4. What Size Tank do I Need?
To calculate the approximate water tank size you need to know:

Is your tank size big enough to get you through the dry season?

RAINFALL MAP

The above map shows annual rainfall. For current rainfall information see Bureau of Meteorology: http://www.bom.gov.au

For more information, see also Calculations page.

5. What Type of Tank is Best?

This information has been provided courtesy of WaterWise and the Department of Primary Industries and is intended as a guide only:

There are many different types of tanks, all with their own advantages and disadvantages. For a general description of rainwater tanks, following is an extract from the report "WaterWise in the Home - FH6" published by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and WaterWise Queensland*:

Galvanised Tanks
"The most common type of tanks is the galvanised variety, which is available in rust-resistant linings, such as Zincalume or Aquaplate. It is the most inexpensive but has a limited life span.

"To reduce corrosion in these tanks, a dispenser of crystals of metaphosphates is sometimes used prior to initial filling.

"New galvanised tanks are now available with food-grade polymer lining to help prevent corrosion. When cleaing older tanks it is important not to disturb the films which builds up in the inside walls of the tank, as this helps protect against corrosion."

Fibreglass Tanks
"Fibreglass tanks, although more expensive, are longer lasting because they resist corrosion and are not generally affected by chemicals or moisture.

"Fibreglass tanks allow more light entry than other types of tanks, which encourages algal growth. To prevent this, tanks should be sealed with a black covering inside or painted on the outside. Some tanks are manufactured with sufficient pigment to prevent this problem occurring."

Fibreglass can tend to be brittle in nature, being prone to cracking and leaking.

Concrete Tanks
"Concrete and ferro-concrete tanks are strong and long lasting and can be installed underground. Larger tanks often have to be cast in-situ.

"New concrete and ferro-concrete tanks will need to be adequately flushed to remove the concrete taste from the water."

Concrete is generally porous and tends to crack, thereby occasionally leaking and allowing tree roots to enter.

Polyethylene Tanks
Polyethylene tanks do not corrode, are relocatable, are made from a very strong material and are generally, the longest lasting tanks.

Generally, high quality polyethylene materials are used, which don't give out any taste or smell. UV stabilised, food-grade polyethylene is generally an industry-standard.

Provided that the tanks are made at the correct thickness, algae growth does not occur.

Most of the larger size tanks have leaded PVC support poles to hold up the roof. Poles may wear holes through the roof and they take a lot of effort to stand up if they fall over and the roof collapses.

Polyethylene tanks are rotomoulded. Some tanks are made with a vertical seam, and this, being a weak point in the tank, may cause splitting and water loss.

With such a large variety of tanks to choose from, it can be a challenge to find the best tank for you...

6. What Makes POLYWORLD Tanks so Special?

POLYWORLD rainwater tanks have all the advantages of other brand poly water tanks...

	No rust or corrosion
	No taste
	No smell
	No brittle or porous materials
	Food-grade polymers
	UV Stabilised
	Relocatable
	Long Lasting

...but ONLY the POLYWORLD 5500 gallon tanks have these unique, essential features:

	No vertical side seams - no splits, cracks or water loss
	No leaded PVC support poles required inside the tank to support the roof
	A roof which will support two people on it!
	Provision for an easy-access manhole
	Thick walls and extra-thick solid ribs to prevent bulging
	High quality, food grade, virgin polyethylene materials - only the best
	Full-colour material guarantees no algae growth
	Fill-to-the-top design - no wasted air space
	Mozzie-proof stainless steel (not aluminium) mesh on strainer and overflow - Qld Health compliant
	Top-Quality fittings
	Friendly consultants who are willing to help

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