:: FAQ's

1. What are the main uses of water in the average household?

2. How much water can I save by collecting rainwater from the roof of my house?

The amount of water you can collect from your roof is dependant on two simple factors
A) How much rain falls on the roof and
B) The area of the roof in square metres.

Increasing the roof area connected to the rainwater tank will significantly improve the volume of water collected. For example if the average rainfall in your area equals 653 mm and your roof is 50 square meters you will collect approximately 32,650 litres per year.

Water Collected In Litres     roof area (M) City annual rain fall (mm) 502 1002 1502 Brisbane 1,146 57,300 ltr 114,600 ltr 171,900 ltr Sydney 1,217 60,850 ltr 121,700 ltr 182,550 ltr Canberra 633 31,650 ltr 63,300 ltr 94,950 ltr Melbourne 653 32,650 ltr 65,300 ltr 97,950 ltr Hobart 619 30,950 ltr 61,900 ltr 92,850 ltr Adelaide 558 27,900 ltr 55,800 ltr 83,700 ltr Perth 869 43,450 ltr 86,900 ltr 130,350 ltr Darwin 1,714 85,700 ltr 171,400 ltr 257,100 ltr Information supplied by the Australian Bureau of Meterology Rainfall averaged over the period 1908 - 2004

You will find a chart of average rainfall on this website.
For more information check with the Bureau of Meteorology site www.bom.gov.au

3. What is the best way for me to use rainwater at home and what size tank do I need?

Typical tank installation required to water a small garden... approximately 2 x 5000 litre tanks

Therefore in order to maximise the utilisation of your rainwater tank it needs to be connected to a mains water supply. This will enable you to have access to a constant water supply irrespective of the source. Fortunately this arrangement does not require a large tank. Typically a 2000 – 3000 litre tank connected to toilets and/or the laundry will maximise the efficient use of stored rainwater. Alternatively connecting the tank to the hot water supply is an excellent option.

To conserve water in the garden you could:

• Use of mulch
• Water early in the morning
• Plant low water use native trees and shrubs
• Use of recycled water
• Install a drip water system.

4. How do I choose a location for my rainwater tank?

If you are building a new home or undertaking extensive renovations of an existing one this is an excellent opportunity to install an Aquasource rainwater utilisation system. Aquasource offer a large range of attractive above and underground tanks specially created to blend seamlessly with today’s modern home designs. Talk to your builder about integrating an Aquasource system into your house designs.

5. What if there is no rainwater in the tank?

6. Is Aquasource a complete system and what are the components supplied?

Aquasource systems are supplied as a complete unit ready to install. All you need to do is select the tank that best meets your needs. Aquasource will do the rest.

Each system comes complete with;

• A rainwater storage tank
• A controller
• A submersible pump
• The system also includes a leaf strainer, entry port and drain plug for easy cleaning and maintenance

7. Do I need approval to install a rainwater system and who should carry out the work?

Before installing a rainwater tank check with the local authority to see if there are any health, building or planning regulations regarding rainwater usage relevant to your area. Rainwater tank systems connected to a mains water supply will require a licensed plumber to install them. Aquasource systems are supplied complete, are easy to install and come with simple, easy to follow installation instructions.

8. I have heard about 5 Star, Basix and Water Proofing Adelaide where does Aquasource fit in with these?

Domestic rain water harvesting reduces pressure on precious water resources.

www.5starhouse.vic.gov.au
www.basix.nsw.gov.au
www.waterproofingadelaide.sa.gov.au