Rainwater harvesting has become increasingly important to Australians as the drought conditions become harsh. However, just purchasing a 10000 litre water tank is not all you need to do to secure an adequate supply of water for your household. If you plan to utilise the collected water for consumption, there are a number of things that you should bear in mind to ensure that you are not posing a health risk to you and your loved ones. The following will enlighten you on some of the primary considerations to have when engaging in rainwater collection for consumption.

Considerations for steel water tanks

To protect the integrity of steel water tanks, they will typically be galvanised once they are constructed to ensure that they are not vulnerable to premature corrosion. However, what you may not know about steel water tanks is that they could still end up changing the taste of your water. The longer the water sits in the tank, the higher the chances that some zinc will seep into it and give the water a metallic taste. For some people, this water may be unpalatable for them. Rather than settle for metallic tasting water, a significant consideration to have is installing a poly lining inside the water tank before it is put to use. Furthermore, you should take note that after several decades the steel tank is bound to acquire some degradation so it may not be suitable to consume the water anymore but you could use it for other applications.

Considerations for poly water tanks

Inarguably, poly tanks are one of the most popular solutions that households choose when they decide to harvest rainwater. The main reason behind this is poly tanks are typically manufactured using BPA free plastics, which makes them a food grade receptacle. Moreover, poly tanks are more accessible to install, as they are not as heavyweight as their steel counterparts, which provides some cost savings in terms of labour costs. However, there are still a few points to take note of if you want to ensure the best quality of water. Firstly, you should invest in a shelter for the tank to ensure that it is not in direct sunlight, mainly if the tank is going to be installed above ground. Secondly, it is advisable to select poly tanks with ultraviolet resistance. This variety of tanks may cost a bit more, but The UV protection prevents algae growth in your water.