| It may be hard to believe that England has a | | | | cleanest water from just below the surface of |
| water shortage and there is now official | | | | the water. |
| encouragement to use less main water both by | | | | 6. Make sure that the submersible pump has a |
| increasing the use of rainwater and using | | | | float switch: even if the pump has dry run |
| water-efficient appliances. There have been | | | | protection, there is a risk that it would burn itself |
| DEFRA adverts in national newspapers telling us to | | | | out when the tank empties repeatedly in summer. |
| save water. However, at the moment, there are | | | | Your mains top up (if it's the sort that admits |
| no tax incentives or grants available for the | | | | mains water into the rain tank) should also |
| homeowner to consider installing a rainwater | | | | prevent dry running but the flow might be slower |
| harvesting system. It may interest you to know | | | | than the pump can shift. |
| that building regulations are changing in 2010 to | | | | 7. If you have ground water within a metre of |
| make a 120 litre maximum per person per day | | | | the surface, concrete the tank in: otherwise when |
| the norm and planners may find that they need | | | | it's empty its buoyancy will float the whole tank |
| rainwater harvesting. | | | | out of the ground. |
| Here are 10 key points to be considered when | | | | 8. Ensure that all the downpipes off the house are |
| installing a system. | | | | connected to the tank: get all the possible water |
| 1. Bury the tank underground: the 10 degrees | | | | off the roof when it rains. |
| Celsius cool of the ground inhibits bacterial action | | | | 9. Do not run surface water into the rainwater |
| and the water does not go yellow. | | | | tank: you'll want to avoid oil spills and dog mess |
| 2. Plan your rainwater system early: with the | | | | getting into the water if you're flushing toilets and |
| architect, you must check the inverts, which are | | | | washing clothes with it. |
| the levels of the tank and drain/soakaway and | | | | 10. Consider a smart header tank with your rain |
| rain pipes. Also the tank should be buried when | | | | system: it reduces electricity use by ten, reduces |
| the first part of the groundworks are being dug. | | | | wear and tear on the pump and appliances (gentle |
| 3. Choose a supplier which provides an accurate | | | | gravity feed) and ensures water supply in a |
| tank size calculation and a written quote conform | | | | power cut. However, do not fit a standard header |
| with BS8515 2009: you want to be certain to | | | | tank as, in the heat of the roof space, the |
| have the trouble-free equipment which will get the | | | | rainwater will turn yellow through bacterial action |
| approval of your council inspector. | | | | when you go away on holiday. |
| 4. If you are not on the main drain, dig a double | | | | That's it in a nutshell. It's not rocket science to |
| size soakaway for tank overflow and debris: the | | | | install a rainwater harvesting system. For an |
| filter in the head of the tank is self-cleaning. Water | | | | average investment of #2000 to #3000, to |
| flowing over it sends debris out through siphon to | | | | make a sustainable difference this is the simplest |
| drain or soakaway. No maintenance. | | | | and least expensive of the many green options |
| 5. Equip the submersible pump with a floating | | | | you can take. |
| intake. Why? Because it skims the freshest and | | | | |