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Choosing a Location for Your Rainwater Tank

Choosing a Location for Your Rainwater Tank

If you are you looking to purchase a rainwater tank, then you should have an understanding of what tank size you need. Once you have worked out how much rainwater you wish (and are able) to harvest, your next step will be identifying an appropriate location for a tank that size on your property.

There are five key considerations for choosing the right spot for your water tank:

  1. Council regulations on placement
  2. Pipework installation considerations
  3. Plumbing and pump considerations
  4. Location space and tank dimensions
  5. Property aesthetic considerations

We discuss these in detail below:

1. Council Regulations on Placement

Make sure to check your local council regulations regarding installing a rainwater tank on your property. Some local councils have regulations regarding placement and size of your water tank. For example:

  • most councils will have setback conditions (minimum distance from your property lines)
  • some might even require your tank to be hidden from view of the street
  • some may require you to set aside storage capacity for stormwater detention or fire-fighting purposes (if in a bushfire prone area).

These conditions could obviously effect the type of tank you purchase and/or ideal locations.

2. Pipework Installation Considerations

Walk around the outside of your house and note all locations of downpipes from your roof. While your tank doesn’t need to be right next to a downpipe, choosing a site for your tank that is close to a downpipe will make it easier running the necessary pipework to your tank.

Positioning your tank next to downpipes might also limit your location options. Perhaps your tanks would be better positioned on the outer side of a path, or maybe right up the back of your house in garden surroundings.

If you wish to avoid unsightly above ground pipes (a “dry system”), an alternative is to run pipes underground to deliver harvested rainwater into your tank (a “wet system”). Wet systems also allow you to tap into multiple downpipes for greater rainwater harvesting.

3. Plumbing and Pump Considerations

If you will be plumbing your rainwater tank into your property so that tank water is accessible from different locations, then it is good to consider where most of your tank water will be used.

For example, if your rainwater will be used in your swimming pool or garden, then locating it near such would be ideal. If you will be plumbing your tank into your house, then it will obviously require much less plumbing work if closer to your house.

Consider also if your property is on a slope, that higher locations are more ideal for a tank. Making use of gravity will mean less pump power is required to push water around your property. If fortunate, you might even be able to use a completely gravity-fed system.

4. Location Space and Tank Dimensions

Measure the amount of space to ensure the water tank you are interested in buying will fit into the location you’ve selected. Team Poly provide many tank styles and size options that can overcome space constraints such as round tanks, various slimline tank models, underdeck and underground tank models.

Keep in mind tanks can also be linked together, so if one large tank doesn’t fit then perhaps two or more smaller will do the trick.

Finally, perhaps your tank will fit, but beware that its height doesn’t obstruct windows. Maybe you are considering placing your tank below a high deck. Team Poly sell squat tanks, which have a wider diameter and lower height. You can also dig out and partially bury some of our poly tanks.

5. Property Aesthetic Considerations

You obviously won’t want your rainwater tank looking out of place or be an eyesore in the location you choose. We believe that the corrugated ribs give a stylish feel to our round tanks, and with the many colours to select from you can ensure your tank matches just about any surrounding.

If that isn’t enough, then there are also many other techniques you can use to help your rainwater tank blend in with its environment. Check out our article: Ideas for Hiding Rainwater Tanks on Properties.

If you have any more questions or a ready to buy a tank, contact our friendly team to get a free quote on your rainwater harvesting system today.