When stockpiling water in a time of environmental uncertainty is paramount, your property needs to have a rainwater tank and catchment system in place, financed through an ASAG Reverse Mortgage.
Water is an important resource to be collected every day and used for a variety of purposes. For seniors, there’s an important need to bathe and get hydrated more than usual to keep their bodies in top condition.
Rainwater storage 101
A rainwater storage and catchment system comprises several key elements:
- Water level monitor. A water level monitor is installed inside the water tank to keep track of the supply. Certain monitoring devices may be “smart” units, meaning the homeowner can still watch the supply while inside the house using a digital monitoring unit.
- Roof gutters. The roof and gutters will be the prime channel for the rainwater system. The gutters will direct the water right to the water tank but the gutters themselves need to be shielded with top screens and backed up by rain heads and leaf stoppers.
- First flush. The first flush device is installed after the first elbow turn of the pipe connecting the gutter to the tank. It will sift out the most contaminated rainwater from the final flow.
- Flap valves. Flap valves are set up on the tank inlet and outlet pipes plus the vents to secure the tank from insect entry.
- Water pump. The pump will direct the water out of the tank into the home’s plumbing system starting at a pressure tank. A rainwater filter will remove sediment and odours from the water before it is processed at the pump.
- Tank. A corrugated water tank is the central component of the system. Rainwater tanks are made of stainless steel, concrete, fibreglass, and polyethylene. Choosing the volume and shape of the tank will depend on your needs for the system, the annual rainfall levels in your region, and the area where it will be placed on your property.
A common rule in choosing your tank will be to calculate the projected volume of water for every millimetre of rain and size of your catchment area. A shaded section or underground placement will be necessary if the property is in an area with frequent sunshine.
Depending on the base material of the tank, some rainwater tanks may even be coloured to match your property’s look.
Installing a rainwater tank
When installing a rainwater tank, your contractor may guide you on the numerous applications that must be filed with your council. They include a formal development plan for the property, checking up on rules for drinking rainwater and preventing mosquito breeding, and restrictions on tank dimensions and pump noise levels. The circumstances and the overall level of documentation may depend on whether installing the entire tank system is part of retrofitting the property, a renovation or building a new home on the lot. In the case of the latter two options, current legislation may require the system’s compliance with energy- and water-efficiency measures.
If the property has been a few decades old and not been painted in many years, the roofing should be evaluated for asbestos content and lead painting. If there’s traces of asbestos and lead but it is unavoidable, the entire roof should have a full coat of potable-quality sealant, but the catchment system must not be active for the first few instances of rainfall to ensure the sealant sticks in.
Supposing your roof is a preferred “hangout” of animals like birds, their presence alone will force you to configure your rainwater catchment system for gardening, due to their droppings contaminating much of the water that will end up on the tank; the existing water main is for drinking, bathing, and cooking. Any maintenance plan for the tank will also include cleanup to prevent algae buildup.
Presenting the development plan will be also essential when you pick a storage tank that must be placed underground, as the plan must address the deployment of contractors and equipment on the property, and how they will work without disturbing the neighbours. The final cost of the project will need to factor, among others, delivery and installation of the equipment, and service fees of a licensed plumber to connect the system with the home’s plumbing system.
Benefits of having a rainwater tank
Installing a rainwater tank and catchment system lends itself to a range of benefits:
- Lower utility bills. Stocking up on rainwater can save your household a sum in water bills, especially when many tasks at home require adequate water usage, from gardening to bathing.
- Nutrient content. If you are operating a garden on your property, rainwater will be a suitable irrigation component as its natural composition will include more essential nutrients for the plants and soil. Some gardening experts claim that using rainwater for irrigation reduces salt and chlorine content in the soil that impedes plant growth.
- Environmental protection. Aside from the above benefit of providing more water nutrients, installing a rainwater system on your property will also help the environment in terms of reduced soil erosion and damage to floodways. It may also reduce a need to build more reservoirs and dams.
- Rebates. A rainwater tank and catchment system may be expensive but some states may offer rebates depending on the volume of the tank. You will need to consult your local council on any rebates available in your community.
The A.S.A.G. Reverse Mortgage
Water security and storage is essential to ageing in place. Rainwater storage is also a way to give back to Mother Nature. Let ASAG help you find a way.
The A.S.A.G. Reverse Mortgage can assist Australian retirees in funding the installation of their rainwater tank and catchment system, as well as Home Improvements without the need for ongoing payments.
If you have any questions or want to learn more about our reverse mortgage, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 1300 002 724 or info@asagfirst.com.au. You can also use our free tool below to evaluate the equity available in your home and get started.