Many parts of the United States are in (or are about to enter) a drought period, facing possible water restrictions. In February 2009, the Governor of California ordered that mandatory water rationing and mandatory reductions in water use may be introduced. Although Governor Brown declared the drought official over in March 2011, state water authorities have continued the call for a statewide water reduction.
Rain tanks collect fresh rain water from the home roof and store it for times of drought. Modern rain tanks are sealed from light, animals and vegetable matter so the water stays clean for months.
Proponents of global warming warn that weather patterns are already changing and traditional rainfall levels are expected to drop in many areas.
Healthier Plants
Water supplied for human consumption is treated to avoid the many diseases that can be transmitted before it reaches our homes. The filtration and chemical process changes the water that may be good for humans but not the best for your plants. Rainwater is free from additives - just as nature designed it. Many gardeners spend a lot of money at the nursery buying the best plant care products, but they do not realize that the most important ingredient they are using (tap water) is an inferior product. Whether you need to get seedlings off to a good growth spurt or are looking for a truly organic vegetable and fruit tree crop, rainwater is the natural choice.
Green Living
Green living is now becoming a way of life for a majority of Americans. People are conscious of their ‘carbon footprint’ and are seeking methods to reduce the future impact on the environment and climate. 20% of California’s power consumption is used to collect, transport and treat water.
In areas of major urbanization the environment is suffering from increased run-off that cannot soak naturally into the ground. As a result, aquifers are not filling at a rate fast enough to restore their pre-urban levels.
Save clean water for drinking
Unlike solar power, water is a limited resource and the cost of its supply is certain to rise in the next few years. Most major water collection and distribution projects in California were completed over fifty years ago and no new major catchment projects are planned. Water restrictions are nothing new in California, but since the last major drought in the early 1990s, the state's population has grown by 9 million to a total of 38 million. In a press conference on March 12, 2009 the governor plainly stated that, with increased demand and limited supply, Californians can expect to pay more for water in the future.
But why use good drinking water on the garden or to flush toilets? Over 40% of water supplied to most suburban households is used on the garden. This is not the best use of a product processed for human consumption. Besides, most plants enjoy the slightly acidic and soft qualities of rainwater.
Aussie Rain Tanks maintain a high quality of rain water with gutter guards, insect filters and first flush devices that divert the first rains of the season to the drain. All tanks are opaque and do not allow the growth of algae. Tanks are made or lined with food grade quality polyethylene.
Design
You can easily source a water tank on the web today made for agricultural or commercial customers. These tanks are generally too large for residential use and typically come in black, white and dark green. Aussie Rain Tanks specializes in slimline tanks that fit under the eaves of the house and come in over six color choices.
Alternatively you can pick-up a rain barrel at the local nursery. While these may look great under a downpipe in your garden, they typically store no more than 60 gallons, which is inadequate for most garden sizes. At Aussie rain Tanks we recommend a minimum of 300 gallons of storage, purpose built to collect and store clean rainwater. Also beware of recycling old plastic containers to rain barrels as they may have been used to transport harsh chemicals for their original purpose and could leech poorer quality plastic.
Australia is the leader in residential rain tank design, manufacture and color choice. Check out the Rainwater HOG for the ultimate combination of functionality and design.
Function
Modern rain tanks should compliment the property. They should be suited where they obtain the maximum catchment but not too far from where the water is intended for irrigation. The tanks should also be large enough to store an adequate water supply.
Large, round tanks or super slim tanks give today's rain harvester many options for the optimal system.