Browse Forums Eco Living 1 Nov 17, 2010 3:36 pm Can someone please help? I live in Brisbane (Brisbane City Council) and am in the process of finalising house plans (yet to go to council). Discovered today (after lots of research) that water tank companies don't want you to know what is involved with an underground rainwater tank. Even BCC contact officers did not give me all the info... I was looking at putting in a 20K litre concrete underground tank with trafficable lid rather than the required 5K litre tank. Apparently any underground or semi-submerged rainwater tank MUST have a back-flow prevention device and a double-check valve. (One off purchase of about $800?) You have to be licensed annually which costs $100 to the BCC and it also has to be inspected annually which apparently is anywhere between $200-$300 . This means about $400 pa in ongoing costs!! Furthermore I read on another thread that you cannot use the tank water for your pool or to water the plants. It is a dedicated tank for toilets and washing machine. I was hoping to use the stored water for my garden/pool. Can someone give me some advice, please? Is the info above correct???? Thank you so mcuh in advance. Re: Rainwater tank headache 2Nov 22, 2010 4:34 pm Using a water tank for garden and or pool no problems. No plumber would have issues doing that. No council will have any issues either, but just check with Brisbane council, I have helped install rainwater tanks in NSW, VIC and SA never an issue. As for backflow prevention device and double check valve would not cost $800. I would have thought $200 plenty. If building an under ground tank not always off the shelf. You could build one under the house, look at dincel. I have seen plastic or PVC ones entirely buried, I have no idea if that is recommended. I have seen off the shelf concrete tanks underground. But to drive over the top will add to the complexity and only seen custom built at a guess $5k for 20k. Finally if the tank is not plumbed back into the house I would have thought no annual check is required, no check in NSW, VIC or SA that I'm aware of. Effectively same as having rainwater tank with hose and plumb to water the garden. Just ignore the pool application aspect for BCC. You only need tank for garden. You will still need to have 5k for a retention tank because if your 20k is full the water will immediately flow to the stormwater system which defeats the purpose of a rentention tank. I would still connect the two. Good Luck Pulpo Re: Rainwater tank headache 3Nov 22, 2010 7:59 pm Thanks so much for your lengthy reply, Pulpo. The issue arises when BCC REQUIRE each new house to have minimum of 5K litre tank to be plumbed to the toilet and washing machine. I was hoping that the 20K tank would help fill my pool, water my garden and flush my toilets and supply water to my washing machine. From your reply it sounds as though I have to have 2 tanks ANYWAY. I really wanted to get away with one (underground) so I don't have to have another standing around. Thank you so much again!! Re: Rainwater tank headache 4Dec 14, 2010 4:08 pm newhouse, Have you made any more progress on the underground tank issue? I am also considering an underground tank for a property in Brisbane. I think we have similar ideas, plumb the tank into toilet & washing machine per BCC requirements as well as use it for gardening via outdoor taps. If you've done some groundwork already I'd love to know what you've found out. Who have you spoken to at BCC? Thanks, Hillcrest. Hillcrest build at Wavell Heights - Adenbrook https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=56663 Re: Rainwater tank headache 5Dec 14, 2010 8:07 pm There is a company I came across that do under driveway watertanks in Brisbane ... they could probably help with all the rules and regulations as well. http://www.bbtanks.com.au/ ~ trying to build our dream home by the sea ~ Re: Rainwater tank headache 6Dec 17, 2010 4:06 pm Thank you so much for all the advice. BCC call centre had absolutely no idea. They said they had never heard of an annual licence. They referred me to a specialist area who could not help either. It was only after they gave me the number of one of their plumbing inspectors that I found out: it costs approx $200-$300 for a dual check valve to be fitted YES- the annual fee is around $100. the annual inspection fee is about $200 - $300 This means no matter where your underground water tank is - backyard or underslab - it will cost a minimum of $300 pa just to have it there. You can buy SO MUCH tap water for that! What a joke! And here I was thinking that councils WANTED people to collect water! Thanks so much again everybody - please tell others to watch out. Once you have parted with your $3000 or $4000 to have the tank put in, it is hard to have it pulled out when you realise there are annual costs involved. S much better sticking to a standard 5000L tank if that is the minimum you are required to instal. Thanks again!! 18 74792 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 25145 Grate, thank you! RexChan if thats the reason i could sleep well without thinking about additional cost. But 1st i'll need to read about NRV cleaning/replaing stuff. I… 7 25477 |