Perth Rainwater Tanks: Do the Math, Figure Out the Correct Capacity

In its 2014 survey of bathing habits throughout 16 major markets, research firm Euromonitor revealed that Australians would like to take up to 8 showers every week.

White floor drains

Given the dry climate and sweltering temperatures typical of summertime in the region, it comes as no surprise that households in Western Australia, particularly in Perth, consume millions of litres of water every day whenever they shower. About 25 percent of household water, in fact, goes to showers or baths, according to a Water Corporation spokesman interviewed by WAtoday.

In this drying climate, authorities urge the public to conserve water, whether by replacing inefficient showerheads or shortening the daily shower time to four minutes. It would also make sense to invest in sustainable and long-term solutions that address water shortage issues. Consider rainwater harvesting, for instance, which takes advantage of a freely available resource.

After a dry summer with below average rainfall, Perth is off to a warm and wet autumn. Now is certainly a great time to invest in durable corrugated steel rainwater tanks in Perth that allow you to collect water from the sky. Tanks like those from Rainfill Tanks and Curved Roofing Supplies have storage capacities of between 500 and 22,000 litres.

That said, homeowners should think about how big of a water tank they really need. Will a 2,000-litre tank be enough for a household of two? Will a family of five find a 10,000-litre tank more than adequate for its needs? The savewater!® Alliance generally recommends getting a tank with the biggest capacity you can afford and that your roof collection area permits. A little number crunching is also in order.

The Four-Week Supply Rule

Determine your average weekly water consumption and multiply that by four. If the average Perth resident uses around 130,000 litres a year, then that translates to 2,500 litres a week (1 year is approximately 52 weeks). Assuming rainwater will fill for your water needs during emergencies, a rainwater tank with a 10,000-litre capacity is a good call.

Calculating Catchment

Every millimetre of rainfall is said to yield a litre of water for every square metre. This computation is essential in determining how much runoff your roof can catch, which depends on the roofing material and slope. If, say, rain water tanks in Perth were to be connected to 100 square metres of roofing on average, and the rainfall was 15 mm, the collected water would amount to 1,500 litres.

Such computations must be considered alongside other factors. Fortunately, homeowners in Perth can count on a company like Rainfill Tanks and Curved Roofing Supplies to provide custom solutions and carry out rainwater tank installation with utter precision.

(Source: “What size tank will I need?” savewater!® Alliance)

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