Drought is a part of normal life in many parts of the world and given the threats posed by climate change combined with traditionally low rainfall, growers and non-growers alike need to keep their clean water supplies high. A rainwater tank is a sustainable option to help through lean times. by Michael Bloch
Harvesting
Living Water Here in Australia, the corrugated metal rainwater tank is somewhat of a national icon. In South Australia, around 30 per cent of homes have rainwater catchment systems. Water tanks haven’t been an overly attractive home addition until recently. These days, tanks come in many shapes, colours, materials and sizes to suit any home and space. If having a full size water tank isn’t an option for you, rain barrels are a very affordable and easyto-install option. They look like a pickle barrel, are mostly made of plastic and hold up to 363 litres. In this article we’ll take a brief look at the various materials commonly used to construct larger tanks—and the various advantages and disadvantages.
Poly (plastic) rainwater tanks
Poly tanks are made from polyethylene, a UV-stabilized, foodgrade plastic. These tanks are light and have a long, serviceable life. Many poly tanks carrying a 25 year warranty, although many claim 15 years is a more realistic lifespan. They are also usually the second cheapest of the options covered in this article. One of the major disadvantages of polyethylene is the material is made from petrochemicals, meaning this big hunk of plastic 42
Maximum Yield | July/August 2011