If you planning to install water tanks to conserve rainwater, here are few useful tips that will help you with the installation.
Firstly, you must make sure that you have the right space to install your water tanks. Never order your water tanks without deciding the spot where you are going to install your water tank because the size of your water tank and the shape of the water tank will depend very much on the space available.
Secondly, you will have to make sure that your roof is prepared well for water collection. You will have to make the roof of your building suitable for effective collection of water. If the roof of your building is not prepared properly, then you will get very little out of rainwater tank installation. Proper channels and troughs have to be made to increase the quantity of water that is collected.
Use proper methods to keep the debris out of the water tank. If the debris enters the water tank, it will make the water collected less usable for personal purposes. So try to install gutter mesh which will be good enough to keep the debris out. You must also remember to clear the debris that is collected in the gutter mesh periodically to allow easy flow of water into the water tank.
It is also not a bad idea to think of some kind of water diverter arrangement so that you can keep the rain water from the first rains away from getting into the water tank because the roof would have collected debris and dust between rains. By using a water diverter, you will be able to keep the water in the water tank clean. The first rain of the season will wash away the dust and debris on the roof making the roof surface suitable for collection of water from successive rains.
You must also remember to install insect proof screens or protection to keep insects and mosquitoes entering into the water tanks. All these protections will help you keep the rain water collected clean and usable even for your personal needs.
Above all make sure that you buy good quality water tanks that will last for years so that you are not spending more money on replacing or repairing your water tanks frequently. It is best to go for water tanks made locally in Australia as they would have been manufactured keeping in mind the tough Australian weather. Your water tanks should also be made of food grade material.
Choose the right sized water tanks taking into consideration the anticipated usage and your family size so that you can manage even the driest summers without fearing water scarcity issues.