Rainwater Tanks: Part 1
A rainwater tank is a beneficial addition to any home, whether new or established, and the additional water can give a homeowner freedom from the water restrictions that are in place in many areas of South Africa/Eastern Cape. However, there are some things that you need to consider when choosing a water tank in order to ensure that you have the one that is right for you. Here is some tips to remember when choosing which water tank will suit you best:
The Size: This is by far the most common question. The size of the tank will depend on your requirements. If you plan to use the water on your garden, you will only need a smaller tank. A larger tank will be required of you plan on using the water inside your home. Water tanks can store as little as a thousand litres of water and as much as 20 000 litre or more.
The Design: The design of the tank will depend on the situation and also your requirements. Tanks come in many shapes and sizes, so there is one to suit almost every home.
Space: The amount of space that you have either beneath you home (designed into your newly build house), or in your back garden will also dictate the type of water tank that you can install. If you are space poor, there are new slim line designs that are made to fit snugly alongside the house (a bit more expensive though!).
Roof area: The amount of roof area that you have will determine how much water you are able to fill the tank with. There is no point in buying a large tank if the roof simply isn’t big enough to capture enough water to fill it.
The Pump: You will need to get the water out from the tank somehow, and you will need to decide of you want a pump-based system or a gravity-fed system. If the water is going uphill or along the ground at any point, you will require a pump. The size of the pump will be dependent on the amount of water moved and also the amount of pressure required. Of you have an elevated tank, a gravity-fed system may be adequate on its own if you are not to use the water in-house. But you will need to refer to a professional to ensure that you get the best possible results.
Rainwater Tanks: Part 2
Trends in Water Tanks
There are many styles of water tanks available, with new innovations coming out all the time. The most common types of tanks are the plastic or polymer tanks which are traditionally been round in shape. These days, manufacturers are working with rectangular or square designs which are often much easier to place within a home and look much less intrusive. These tanks are also available in a huge range of colours, so that they are able to suit any home colour scheme. 
Steel tanks are still common, also, and these are usually lined with polyethylene in order to prevent corrosion. While round is still the most common shape, it seems that manufacturers are finding new ways to work with steel all the time. Concrete water tanks are best if you need to locate your tank underground. As thy are load-bearing, they are great for placing under things such as driveways and entertaining areas.
More foreign designs: One new innovation in water tank design is to design the tank so that it resembles a boulder or a rock. This allows the tank to be placed unobtrusively within the landscape, so that the casual observer wouldn’t even know that it was there. These tanks are also fantastic for environmentally sensitive areas. In recent years. a major advancement in water tank design has been the development of the rubber water tank bladder. The sheer flexibility of these means that they can be installed underneath a house, or even in the back of a vehicle. Bladders are completely sealed and have an extremely high resistance to puncturing to ensure that they will not burst in the home’s sub-floor space. Water bladders come with all of the necessary inlet and outlet valves.
