Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Feb 21, 2007 9:57 am Hey guys,
Just a quick on re Rainwater Tanks... Our builders have given us the following quote for supply and install of a r/w tank For a 5000L colorbond tank on integral structural slab with piering, connection to 2x WC's, cold water washing machine point, & external taps is $8,835. For 2000L & 3000L tanks together as above willl cost $8,301. If you want to supply your own, we will connect with slab etc as above for $3,100(for a 5000L tank)& $3,585 (for a 2000L & 3000L tank). I can get my own tank and accessories for around $2500. This price is for a poly tank, where the builder is supplying a colour bond. so I would be looking at roughly $5600 with my own tank, getting them to lay the slab plus installation. What does everyone think regarding their pricings? Would it just be easier to go with them supplying the tank as at least I don't have to worry about the delivery of tank and any problems that may arise due to using my own supplied tank? Any opinions are welcome! Thanks Re: Rainwater Tanks 2Feb 21, 2007 10:23 am I have to say, I have mixed feelings about rainwater tanks...
Lets say a tap puts out 10L per minute, so you'd use 600L per hour. A 2000L tank (which most people are now installing - yourself excluded) would then give you 3 hours 20 mins of running water... a large outlay for what is a relatively small amount of water. Also, you'd need to consider how much it rains in your area, and how much of the rain would be collected (do all spouts collect, or just one or 2?). I think unless you are prepared to go for a decent size tank that would last for a considerable time (say 20,000L) it may not be worth it in the long run - especially if you have toilets and other systems hooked up to it. You'd need a diverter for when the tank runs out, and then you'd still need water saving measures in your house or the tank will run out quick! Of course this doesn't apply when the tank is for drinking (ie. rural areas). Just my opinion. Ray. Second Time 'Round Re: Rainwater Tanks 3Feb 21, 2007 10:40 am Thanks Ray, for you reply.
Where I am building, in the Gold Coast, it is compulsory to have a minimum 5000L tank installed on all new homes and have the tank connected to the toilets and cold water washing machine tap. When the tank runs low, it just fills up from the town water. I just find that amusing that people are out there watering their gardens with 'rainwater tank water' when it just gets filled up from the tap I am thinking about just going with them to do all of it, it is only $2000 in the scheme of things and if anything goes wrong, it is all their fault, nothing to do with me! Re: Rainwater Tanks 4Feb 21, 2007 11:28 am LOL - obviously you're of a similar mind to me - but if it's compulsory, it's compulsory...
The only reason I'd put in a tank is JUST for watering the garden (not connected to indoor systems) because it looks like it's going to be a long time before we're allowed to water our gardens again... and if you've spent a fair amount of money on the garden (plants, accessories, etc) it's a lot of money just to 'die'. Luckily down here (Melbourne) we have the option of a solar assisted hot water system OR a 2000L water tank hooked up to the toilets... I'm all for the hot water system! All the best with your decision though.. P.S what happens if you refuse to pay extra for it? Shouldn't it be in the house price if it's compulsory? Ray. Second Time 'Round Re: Rainwater Tanks 5Feb 21, 2007 11:30 am PPS - why does it do that? *** - all it was was s h o u l d n ' t i t
maybe I'll have to write "should not it" Second Time 'Round Re: Rainwater Tanks 6Feb 21, 2007 7:38 pm Hi,
Just signed contract to build today in Brisvegas and yes, since Jan 1 have to include the tank. The quote was as follows; 5000L Colourbond Slimline 4 Leaf beta rain heads Mains backup (Davey rainbank) Davey HP45-05 pump Connection of tank to WC cisterns & washings machine Integral slab & pierings $8580.00 ......we went with it because it just got too hard to supply our own and in th end couldn't find any real savings. Strange thing is, you cant leagally have an external outlet to water the garden, as when the tank tank is empty of rainwater, you are using mains. Between 2 of us, I doubt we could empty a tank regularly with just WC & a front end washing machine. Re: Rainwater Tanks 7Feb 21, 2007 8:43 pm Everyone is rushing to install tanks. If it compulsory then fine, or if you live in rural areas etc..
But think about this. Say it costs roughly $2000 to fit a 2000L tank. How much do you think it would cost to fill that very same tank from the tap??? About $2. Given the ammount of rain lately, it will take years and years to recover those costs. And if it does start raining again, well you'll be kicking yourself for doing it in the first place. I say we need large scale solutions that are government funded. Like new damns, recycling etc.. Why should we pay for governments who don't act? They are quite happy spending money (and lots of it) on sporting facilities/events, conference centers, fast trains that don't actually go any faster. The list goes on and on. It gets right on my nerve !! And fitting tanks to homes is a drop in the ocean compared to what a large scale damn or damns can hold. End rant. Re: Rainwater Tanks 8Feb 22, 2007 7:17 am This emphasises that our water is too cheap. Our water bill for a whole quarter is only $20. There is no financial incentive to save water, but there is a moral one.
One thing I have never understood is why we pour our beautiful drinking water on our gardens, then go and buy bottled water to drink! Re: Rainwater Tanks 9Feb 22, 2007 7:32 am Does anyone know how the rainwater tank is connected to the mains?
I thought it would be a ball float operated system, like your toilet. But, you can't have it at high level or the tank would always be full, so no room for rainwater. If it's at low level, the float would go under during rain, which would be a big no-no from the water board. You could then have cross-contamination of the town water. An electric float switch at low level maybe? Re: Rainwater Tanks 10Feb 22, 2007 7:49 am northlakes Hi, Just signed contract to build today in Brisvegas and yes, since Jan 1 have to include the tank. . In Vic the rain water tank only needs to be fed by a min. of 50m2 of roof area. Is it similar in Bris. or is it the total roof area ? 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: Rainwater Tanks 11Feb 22, 2007 7:49 am Not exacly sure, but I have seen a Y pipe (for want of a better explaination) that when there is rain water in the tank, it shuts off the mains, and when there is no rainwater, it shuts that off and runs on town water.
There may be other alternatives, but in this case, the tank would not fill with mains water. Ray. Second Time 'Round Re: Rainwater Tanks 12Feb 22, 2007 11:12 am northlakes ......we went with it because it just got too hard to supply our own and in th end couldn't find any real savings. Strange thing is, you cant leagally have an external outlet to water the garden, as when the tank tank is empty of rainwater, you are using mains. Between 2 of us, I doubt we could empty a tank regularly with just WC & a front end washing machine. Hi there - yep, thats what I am thinking too. It's basically the same price/deal and it is just too hard to muck around with organising everything myself. I feel much better now that I know of a couple of people getting the same deal as me. I'm not getting ripped off by the builder (in this case ) Thanks. Re: Rainwater Tanks 13Feb 23, 2007 10:46 am Bud977,
Sorry but I have to say that I strongly disagree with your statement that water is too cheap. Perth is currently getting is desalinated sea water for just over a dollar per kilolitre. So the real cost is just aver a dollar with no significant environmental impact. (the power for the plant comes from wind power and the saline backwash affects a very minimal area). If our lazy state governments would just bite the bullet and build these things, the problem would dissapear. We might have to pay 20 to 50% more for our water but with economies of scale, maybe not even that. Perths desal plant costs about $350 million and produces about 45 Gigalitres - running costs about $20 million a year. Melbs proposed recycling and moving it to the power plans is estimated at $1.3 BILLION or there abouts and will save about 90Gigalitres a year - running costs about $100 million a yaer. As for water tanks, I am going to get about 40 000 litre tank else it is just not worth my while. I will be using this purely to water the garden and I will also be using grey water for the garden. I expect to have a very green and lush garden. Anyone have any ideas about how I can run piping from gutters from 4 corners of the house to the tank without having the piping running across the walls? Can i run it into the ground and then back up into the tank? I realise that this would leave water in the pipe at all times but does that really matter? The pipes would just be ating as an extension of the tank. Any views on this? 3xb That was always going to be a challenge and a test of patience. Full marks to your mate. Did you discuss the wet area near the trampoline? 16 17380 DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair But if it is a ground level open pit, then it is not a charged system. No surprises there. The pipes have obviously been altered and there would be a reason for this.… 3 31287 |