Browse Forums General Discussion Re: Neighbour installed water tank right next to my garage w 2Feb 12, 2017 12:14 pm 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Neighbour installed water tank right next to my garage w 3Feb 13, 2017 7:52 am Peter Clarkson - AusDesign Australia www.ausdesign.com.au This information is intended to provide general information only. It does not purport to be a comprehensive advice. Re: Neighbour installed water tank right next to my garage w 7Feb 14, 2017 8:24 am Funnily enough he is saying it is the "best installation" of a water tank I'll ever see. Thing is, I see the following issues: 1. I don't think the plumbing was done by a certified plumber, honestly it's everywhere. The bottom picture depicts how it's setup. I'm really concerned how that can work...the (red) overflow pipe is not suppose and actually goes up into the stormwater drain, is that even correct? 2. It blocks my weep holes, massive issue. 3. The concerete base is once again a DIY job, the concrete top layer is thinner than a tim tam biscuit. When I was allowed to pop over and inspect it (when he was still on talking terms), I was able to pressure it with my bare hands and it felt VERY thin and if I could have added more pressure, it would have just broken off. Beneath that was just soil as I asked him was beneath the concrete. 4. I've asked him why he put it on my side when a) the plumbing was more difficult, he said he didn't want the weight of the water against his house. Right, so it's OK against mine, a newly built one? The biggest issue is, he has gone aggressive, I've tried a couple of times to tell him of the issues and how it puts my property under pressure, but he just cuts me off saying all is legal? Where to from here? I need to check my insurance, things can get real ugly... Re: Neighbour installed water tank right next to my garage w 8Feb 14, 2017 8:36 am Aggression = he knows he's wrong. I'd stay away from him now - and seek Council help. BUT - understand - you may lose a neighbour for good ! Maybe ring council first and seek their advice - people love helping and will always feel sorry for you if you explain it all and that you need help ... Re: Neighbour installed water tank right next to my garage w 9Feb 14, 2017 9:53 am Saint Mike Aggression = he knows he's wrong. I'd stay away from him now - and seek Council help. BUT - understand - you may lose a neighbour for good ! Maybe ring council first and seek their advice - people love helping and will always feel sorry for you if you explain it all and that you need help ... Yes I know, I took a second look at the water tank (not even on the fence line), he saw me focusing on it, came out the yard and started to tell obscenities and got aggressive. I don't think he was a great neighbour to begin with. I spoke to the council, they seem weak, the fella who picked up the call as umming and ahhing and it was like "oh the 500mm clearance of boundaries is not set in stone etc"...wtf? Re: Neighbour installed water tank right next to my garage w 10Feb 14, 2017 11:08 am Wow, judder that's nuts! Surely commonsense by the council will prevail and they'll get your neighbour to move the tank. And then you can build the tallest fence legally permitted between you and that neighbour. Keep the crazy on their side of the fence! Good luck. Re: Neighbour installed water tank right next to my garage w 11Feb 14, 2017 11:23 am Hillsbuilds Wow, judder that's nuts! Surely commonsense by the council will prevail and they'll get your neighbour to move the tank. And then you can build the tallest fence legally permitted between you and that neighbour. Keep the crazy on their side of the fence! Good luck. Councils aren't as powerful as most people think they are, at best they'll issue the person in question with a notice to address the issue, but honestly, if that person is stubborn and refuses to rectify it, there isn't much they can do. As much as I wanted to keep the neighbour on amicable terms, it doesn't work, being too soft, he'll just push me over. I'm not sure why I'm also painted to be a bad guy (not here, but another forum) people saying it's his land, he can do whatever he wants etc. I don't have an issue but I'm concerned of the placement and potential issues, fix it now, avoid messy crap in future that may end up in court. The real big issue I have is the potential for leaning. It is after all a 3,000L to 4,000L tank, that close to the wall, sooner or later there is bound to be a bludge long term on the tank. The base is weak as p*ss to be brutal, where would you think the pressure would go to? Footings and my wall! I'd be more than happy if he or the council can give a report from an engineer my fears are unfounded. Re: Neighbour installed water tank right next to my garage w 12Feb 14, 2017 1:43 pm judder Funnily enough he is saying it is the "best installation" of a water tank I'll ever see. 1. The bottom picture depicts how it's setup. Where is the pic and where is the pic in the opening post? 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Neighbour installed water tank right next to my garage w 13Feb 14, 2017 1:50 pm judder I spoke to the council, they seem weak, the fella who picked up the call as umming and ahhing and it was like "oh the 500mm clearance of boundaries is not set in stone etc"...wtf? If you take up an issue with anyone, you have to know your facts, you cannot assume that someone on the other end of the phone knows the facts. It is also far better to speak face to face rather than over the phone. The Victorian Consolidated Regulations for side and rear setbacks are linked below. http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/ ... /s414.html The link below mentions bulging tanks. Note that not all Australian manufactured tanks are certified to the new code, there is a misconception amongst the public that they all are but it is not a requirement. http://www.rainwatertanksdirect.com.au/slimline-rainwater-tanks/ "Poly slimline rainwater tanks have in the past had mixed results and have suffered from bulging and splitting problems. This problem has been addressed by many of the manufactures but there are still some cheap imported slimline tanks being sold in Australia that suffer from engineering issues." 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Neighbour installed water tank right next to my garage w 14Feb 14, 2017 2:10 pm SaveH2O judder I spoke to the council, they seem weak, the fella who picked up the call as umming and ahhing and it was like "oh the 500mm clearance of boundaries is not set in stone etc"...wtf? If you take up an issue with anyone, you have to know your facts, you cannot assume that someone on the other end of the phone knows the facts. It is also far better to speak face to face rather than over the phone. The Victorian Consolidated Regulations for side and rear setbacks are linked below. http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/ ... /s414.html Yes agreed. I was specifically referring to that legislation, but the person on the phone seriously sounded or made it sound as if it is not really enforced. Re: Neighbour installed water tank right next to my garage w 15Feb 14, 2017 2:29 pm The set back requirement is enforced on all new homes and they would constitute the vast majority of cases. Many other councils also stipulate those regulations on their websites. I would have made him aware of those indisputable facts to rebuff his learned 'opinion' and asked him why the council is not proactive in legislative enforcement when legislature has clearly been broached and you have concerns about possible property damage with the tank being so close to your garage wall. I would always put such queries in writing and ask for a written response. Of interest, in Victoria, alterations to the roof and stormwater plumbing must be undertaken by a registered and appropriately qualified plumber. 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Neighbour installed water tank right next to my garage w 16Feb 14, 2017 2:34 pm SaveH2O The set back requirement is enforced on all new homes and they would constitute the vast majority of cases. Many other councils also stipulate those regulations on their websites. I would have made him aware of those indisputable facts to rebuff his learned 'opinion' and asked him why the council is not proactive in legislative enforcement when legislature has clearly been broached and you have concerns about possible property damage with the tank being so close to your garage wall. I would always put such queries in writing and ask for a written response. Of interest, in Victoria, alterations to the roof and stormwater plumbing must be undertaken by a registered and appropriately qualified plumber. Thanks. Just curious, how did you find out it was for new homes? Does it matter if mine is new and his is old? Sorry, I'm not really law minded. When I questioned him on the plumbing, he shot back, saying is was done by a qualified plumber. Honestly I don't know much about plumbing but doe those PVC pipe locations look right unsupported? I'll be upfront honest, call me paranoid but I have a suspicion he might want to put it on my side and not abutting his own house because my neighbour has the same fears as me and he doesn't want to damage his house. Re: Neighbour installed water tank right next to my garage w 17Feb 14, 2017 3:14 pm A uPVC stormwater pipe is recommended to be supported every 2 metres from memory but that should not really concern you because it is on his property. The set back legislature is current, that is why new houses must be compliant with it.The neighbour's tank install is new, the age of his house doesn't matter. Your fears about weight are not really founded because the tank's base (not including the base it sits on) has a big footprint and the weight is spread out. If your site was cut and the tank was on the boundary, then you would have some cause for concern due to the tank's zone of influence. It also looks like only one downpipe is diverted to the 3,000 litre tank. The opening post's now deleted photo didn't show a pump connected to the outlets although there may be outlets at the other end...but I still didn't see a power cord coming from the house either. I also couldn't see where there was any plumbing going to the house for a toilet and/or a laundry connection. The system is poorly thought out and it will be collecting minimal rainwater. If it is to be used only for car washing and/or the garden etc, it will probably be near empty for most of the year because 95% of Melbourne's 'rain' periods are either drizzle or light showers and nearly 40% of days with precipitation are falls of 2mm or less. Evaporation rates are high, an annual yield of more than 80-85% is exceptional. Unless the tank's water is never used, the tank will rarely be full. If I was you, I wouldn't be concerned about it provided it was 60-80mm away from the wall. 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Neighbour installed water tank right next to my garage w 18Feb 14, 2017 3:39 pm Hmm thanks for the responses, but I'm not sure of what to do now. I'm kind of confused, the responses seem mixed saying some of my concerns are unfounded? I don't want to make it an overall huge issue but then I don't want to fork out for massive repairs down the track if something does go wrong? Flooding etc. and insurance won't cover it. Going to council and getting them involved - don't want to live next to a really upset neighbour - he's a bit big and burly...and finding out council doesn't really have much they can make him address. I'm also very confused about the "legislation" of the 500mm clearance, it's black and white, I think? But then some posts here are saying it's not really a concern and some say that a minimum of 50-60mm is suffice? Thanks for clarifying. Re: Neighbour installed water tank right next to my garage w 19Feb 14, 2017 4:04 pm judder I'm also very confused about the "legislation" of the 500mm clearance, it's black and white, I think? But then some posts here are saying it's not really a concern and some say that a minimum of 50-60mm is suffice? I have only suggested a 50-80mm gap as a compromise to him to avoid things escalating. The legislation states a 500mm set back and is confirmed on many council and other websites. The chance of your neighbour's tank bulging are possible but not probable but he is asking you to accept that albeit small risk and if you don't want to, then you don't have to. He had no legal right to site the tank there. You might be interested to read the Jan 26th 2.18 pm AEST Whirlpool forums post in the link below. Fortunately for that poster, it was a metal water tank and it 'sprung' and emptied...a seamless poly tank will usually remain intact. https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1782428 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Neighbour installed water tank right next to my garage w 20Feb 14, 2017 4:06 pm Thanks. Could you clarify this bit as well? "If your site was cut and the tank was on the boundary, then you would have some cause for concern due to the tank's zone of influence." When we rebuild, the land was cut and filled. Do you mean this or do you mean if my land was lower than his?? Thanks for that, the PVC pipe is still about 40cm below ground level and it sticks out of the sand with no end cap or anything on it just open pipe, is this the finished… 2 9527 The unit normally clips into a metal plate screwed to the wall, either plate is not flush, or unit not hooked in and could be hanging from the pipes partly, either might… 2 15773 thanks Chippy, i hope they have applied sealer but i am doubt to be honest, so i am gonna do this job after handover. 8 16222 |