Once you have ordered your rainwater tanks, your next task is to prepare the location (site) where your tank will be placed. This article goes through some basic steps for site preparation and piping installation so that you have a good idea what needs to be arranged and considered before your tank arrives.
Site Preparation for Water Tanks
Correct site preparation is essential to ensuring a long and trouble-free life for your rainwater tank. To ensure the foundation of your water tank isn’t undermined through weathering and erosion, it is important to create firm and level foundations.
- The site must be a solid, level and compacted base that extends 150mm beyond the diameter of the tank.
- It must be able to withstand erosion by wind and rain. Suitable bases include brick, concrete, gravel or solid dolomite surface between 300mm and 400mm in depth.
- Water tank stands can be used, but must be designed by a qualified consulting engineer.
People Required to Position Your Tank
On delivery day, you will need a sufficient number of adult able-bodied people to assist our driver with unloading your tank. Depending on the size of tank, we recommend:
- 1 additional person for 9,000+ litres
- 2 additional people for 13,000+ litres
- 3 additional people for 22,000-27,000 litres
- 4 additional people for 36,400+ litres
When moving your rainwater tank into position, handle with care avoiding rough and sharp surfaces and objects. Our drivers are experts in tank positioning, so can guide you with safe lifting and placement.
Pipework Installation to Your Tank
It is a good idea to plan how you will connect your downpipes to your tank so that you can work out what materials you will need for your tank installation.
There are two main pipework system options:
- Dry system (above ground pipework) – where pipework goes directly from your downpipes into the top of your tank, or
- Wet system (underground pipework) – where downpipes lead underground and direct to your water tank located away from your home.
There are pros and cons for each , and the types of accessories needed vary depending on the system you will use – such as Rain Heads and Water Diverters. You may also want to consider whether to install a tank self-cleaning system and a rainwater-to-mains auto-switching system.
Once you have an idea of the system you are using, draw a plan for how you will connect the downpipe to your tank so that you can calculate how much pipe, elbows and connectors you will need for installation, and any additional rainwater harvesting accessories that will be required.
Overflow Pipework
An overflow screen and elbow is provided with Team Poly’s tanks to protect against insects and vermin getting into your tank. When installing the remaining overflow pipework, it is important that it is properly supported and no undue stress is placed upon your tank or fittings:
- All pipework from the tank needs to be properly supported and not place stress upon tank.
- Flexible piping should first be used to connect your tank to pipework which absorbs any movement, preventing stress upon the tank and fittings.
- It is often best to run overflow pipes down the wall of the tank rather than horizontally out to avoid stress upon the tank and fittings.
You have several options for managing the water overflow from your tank:
- Overflow piped to ground – piped away from base of tank so that foundation isn’t undermined. You might place gravel or rocks where water flows to prevent erosion. You should first check with your local council before utilising this method.
- Overflow piped to stormwater – you can find your stormwater pipes by digging carefully at the bottom of your original downpipe.
- Overflow piped to another tank – underground tanks for stormwater detention is a popular option to complement your rainwater tank.
- Overflow piped a swimming pool – great for keeping your pool water topped up although in down pours your pool can quickly fill.
Team Poly provide a free service to review your building plans and recommend an appropriate tank solution to fulfill your rainwater storage requirements. If you have found this article in any way helpful, then we invite you to contact us today.