How Much Rainwater Are You Wasting at Your Brisbane Property?

How much rainwater could your Brisbane roof collect?

Every time it rains, your roof becomes a rainwater catchment area. If you do not have enough storage capacity available, much of that water simply continues into the stormwater system rather than being stored for later use around your property.

The basic rainwater harvesting calculation is quite simple: 1 millimetre of rain falling on 1 square metre of roof represents approximately 1 litre of potential rainwater catchment.

For example, if a Brisbane property has 150 m² of usable roof catchment and receives 25 mm of rain:

The question is therefore not simply how much rain falls on your Brisbane property. It is also how much of that rainwater you have the capacity to collect, store and use before the next substantial rainfall event.

Where could that stored rainwater be used?

Water use around a home can add up quickly. The actual amount used will vary between households, appliances and individual habits, but some typical examples include:

This is why rainwater storage is a balance between supply, storage and demand. A property might have excellent roof catchment, but if the tank fills quickly and then overflows, additional rainfall cannot be stored until some of the existing water has been used.

Is your existing rainwater tank large enough?

A small tank can still be very useful, particularly where space is restricted. However, where a property has good roof catchment and regular water demand, increasing storage capacity may allow more rainfall to be retained rather than lost through the overflow.

Three important factors should be considered when choosing a rainwater tank:

Our Rainwater Catchment Calculator can help you compare your roof catchment with your estimated water usage and get a better idea of the storage capacity that may be useful at your property.

Choosing a water tank for a Brisbane property

The amount of rainwater you could potentially collect is only part of the decision. The available space on your property will usually determine which tank designs and capacities can physically be considered.

Round rainwater tanks

Where sufficient space is available, a round poly water tank generally provides excellent storage capacity for the available spend and is available in a wide range of sizes.

Slimline rainwater tanks

For Brisbane homes with narrower side access or restricted yard space, a slimline water tank may provide a practical way of storing rainwater while using less width than many conventional round tanks.

Underground and underdeck tanks

Where usable above-ground space is particularly limited, underground water tanks or other purpose-designed space-saving options may also be worth considering.

Actual site measurements are important when selecting any tank. Product dimensions should always be compared against the maximum available length, width and height at your property, together with appropriate installation and maintenance clearances.

How much rainwater are you currently letting go?

If your roof receives thousands of litres of potential catchment during a rainfall event but your available tank storage is already full, the excess water has nowhere to be stored.

That does not automatically mean that the biggest possible tank is the right choice. A useful rainwater harvesting system is one that sensibly balances the water your roof can supply, the water your household or property can use and the physical space available for storage.

If you want to put some actual numbers against your property, start with our Rainwater Catchment Calculator. You can then compare suitable tank designs and capacities within our complete water tank range.

Our original “How Much Rainwater Are You Wasting?” infographic

The infographic below provides a visual overview of the same basic principle: everyday water consumption can be substantial, while rainfall falling onto your roof represents a potential water resource that can be collected and stored for later use.

Rainwater tanks delivered to Brisbane

The Tank Factory is the online sales division of Duraplas Industries. We supply Australian-made Duraplas poly rainwater tanks direct to customers, together with Kingspan Aquaplate steel water tank options.

Our range includes round, slimline, underground and other water storage options suitable for many different property types. For Brisbane-specific product and delivery information, visit our Water Tanks Brisbane QLD page.

Our friendly team look forward to assisting with your water tank purchase.

Related pages:
Water Tanks Brisbane QLD |
Water Tanks Brisbane Northside |
Water Tanks Ipswich |
Rainwater Catchment Calculator