Summer is here, which means lovely sunshine hours, but also a lack of rain – so how best can you preserve the rainwater that does actually fall from the sky? Here, the low down on Rain Harvesting – a safe solution for a cost-effective home water supply!
Why should you save water?
It's simple - saving water saves the planet - and your wallet! Local councils currently charge between $1.475 and $1.95 per 1000L of mains water. So, for something as simple as washing your car with the hose - this can use up to 400L of clean drinking water - and can cost you between $0.59-0.78 every wash, depending on where you live. Washing your car twice a week could add up to $60-80 a year - money you could otherwise be spending on Christmas presents!Movable sprinklers also use a lot of water - up to 1300L ($1.91- $2.53) every hour. If you use your sprinkler for an hour a day, every other day, it will cost you between $350-460 each year!
How safe is the water you are collecting?
It seems simple enough - collect water off the roof and store and distribute it from a water tank - but what about all the nasties that can contaminate your water? Bird droppings, insects, rotting debris, airborne dusts (containing heavy metals) - the list goes on! And one thing's for sure - you don't want any of these nasties affecting you - or your family. So - how can you create an eco-friendly water-saving system that's also safe for your family? Installing a Marley Rain Harvesting stem is a unique, safe and cost effective solution that is growing in popularity.
What makes up a rainwater system?
Roofs: Make sure your roof paint is lead-free otherwise rainwater can be collected from iron roofing, clay tiles and slates. It is super-important that no lead is used as roof flashing or gutter solder, as the slightly acidic quality of rain can dissolve the lead and contaminate your water supply.
Gutters & downpipes: Aluminium, galvanised steel or PVC are all suitable materials. Gutters and downpipes must be properly sized, sloped and installed to maximise the quantity of rainwater collected. You can also stop debris entering with Leaf Guards.
First flush diverters: These direct the first runoff from your roof after it's rained, into a separate small chamber - it is effective because the first runoff picks up most of the dirt, debris and other contaminants that can affect your water! Once the chamber has filled, the rest of the water flows to the downpipe connected to the rainwater tank. The small chamber has a small tube in the base that allows it to empty before the next rain. (First flush diverters are optional for non-drinking water use.)
Storage tanks / barrels: Tank materials include food grade plastic, steel, concrete and fibreglass. A tight fitting top cover prevents evaporation, mosquito breeding and keeps animals, insects (and kids!) out of the tank. Tank should sit in a cool place, out of sunlight to prevent algae growing. An overflow outlet and access for cleaning is important. The tank should be placed high enough for gravity to convey the water, or be fitted with a pump.
Water treatment for non-potable (non-drinking) use: Additives for settling sediments or buffering pH and simple filters are optional for non-potable rainwater use. Fine filters and microbiological disinfection are only necessary if your water will be used for drinking.
Suits you...
Choose a Marley Rain Harvesting Kit that suits your needs - from the Rainwater Filtration and Diversion Basic Kit, to a Tank Improvement Products Intermediate Kit or the ultimate Advanced Kit - there's something for everyone!
Kit 1: The Marley Rainwater filtration and diversion - Basic Kit - includes Outlet Strainer, Leaf Eater, Leaf Slide and Downpipe Diverter.
Kit 2: Marley Tank Improvement Products - Intermediate Kit - includes all of the Basic Kit, plus First Flush Diverter, Floating Outtake Kit and Tank Vacuum Kit.
Kit 3: The Marley Advanced Kit includes all of the Basic and Intermediate Kit, plus Calmed Inlet, Vent Cowl and Tank Gauge.
Say what?
Don't know your vacuum from your vent? Here, a breakdown of key terms you need to know...
Outlet Strainer: Prevents excess debris from entering downpipe.
Leaf Eater: Prevents leaves and debris from being captured in the storage tank.
Leaf Slide: Prevents leaves and debris from being captured in the storage tank.
Downpipe Diverter: Allows simple diversion of debris during spouting cleaning and also collection of fresh rainwater for garden watering.
First Flush Diverter: Diverts the first load of contaminated water away from the storage tank. Once the diverter fills, the fresh water flows into the storage tank. (Kit requires additional pipe for chambers).
Floating Outtake Kit: Suspended just below the water surface it draws off the cleanest water for use.
Tank Vacuum Kit: When the tank overflows, the dirty water is siphoned away from the bottom of the tank.
Calmed Inlet: Allows water to enter the storage tank without disturbing the sediment in the bottom of the storage tank.
Vent Cowl: Ideal for providing circulation through the tank.
9 Tank Gauge: Easily monitors the water level in the tank.
7 steps to rain harvesting potable (safe to drink) water...
Tank types...
A wide range of tank sizes (1,000 - 35,000L) and shapes are now available in New Zealand - with tank types including tanks made from polyethylene, corrugated iron, concrete, timber and fibreglass. More recently, smaller rectangular and round slim line skinny tanks (ranging from 600L to 6,300L capacity) have also become available to the New Zealand market, providing an ideal solution to saving space - and water! The smaller tanks can be installed (even two or more in series) up against the wall of a dwelling under the eaves of your home, for a no-fuss space-saving tank. Bladder tanks of various sizes are also increasingly popular. Tanks can be purchased through Marley's sister company RX Plastics - www.rxplastics.co.nz
Last word...
The Marley Rain Harvesting System is designed to work with the Marley PVC range of spouting and downpipes to help make tank water as clean as possible - but it's always advisable to have your tank water analysed by a professional to check whether it is safe to drink. And don't forget - install gutter protection after you've cleaned out the guttering and downpipes, but before you clean your soffits or weatherboards. That way you won't be cleaning twice!For more information visit www.marley.co.nz
