The next time you look out the window at the rain just think what a great harvest you’ll have.  Not just in terms of grain but in terms of water too. Yes, water can be harvested as Warren Agnew explains.

Harvesting rainwater can make economic and evironmental sense.

Over most of New Zealand there is a significant annual rainfall which provides some 1.5 meters of fresh water which is easily collected.

This precipitation is high quality water.

Soft, pure and with a neutral pH of 7 it is ideal for household use.

By capturing water directly, we can significantly reduce our reliance on water storage dams.

This places less stress on these water storages and can potentially reduce the need to either expand these dams or build new ones. Councils can minimize the reticulation systems required to service a residential area.

Collecting rainwater and using your own supply can significantly reduce and even eliminate water charges.

When a number of households capture water, the flow of stormwater can be significantly reduced and this can minimize the likelihood of overloading the stormwater systems.

There are a number of devices [first flush diverters] which allow for the first flow of water to be diverted away from the rainwater storage tank.

By doing this any dirt or contamination that has developed on a roof is diverted away from the main storage system. The systems currently available in the market either do not divert the fine leaves, seeds and bird droppings or clog and deflect water which should otherwise flow into the collection system.  

A company called Connovation has  developed a device which overcomes the technical failings of other available systems.

When put in place after an extended dry period, the Connovation leaf diverter will allow for the diversion of the first flow of water and then on predetermined loading this module will slide from the diverter unit allowing the remaining flow of rainwater to pass into the collection tank having first had leaves, seeds, mosquitoes and bird droppings removed from the water stream. 

The removal of this material which would otherwise have passed directly into the storage tank, significantly improves the standard of the stored water.

The Connovation system allows for further enhancement of the tank stored water by the use of an ingenious patented device the Tank Vac system.

The Tank Vac further addresses the issue of the concentration of fine particles, sediment sand etc at the base of a water tank.

This material which can result in significant contamination of the stored water and it is quite apparent that this type of contamination is concentrated near to but not exclusively in, the lower level water near the tank base.

Thus the stale water is always drawn off at the tap. The fresher water is near the top of the tank.

With the Tank-Vac system the tank on overflow loses water but this is drawn from the base of the tank. Drawn out within the overflow water stream is any material that has collected at the tank base.

The water remaining in the tank has significantly improved clarity and greatly reduced bacterial levels. 

For more information or to see if a Connovation and Tank Vac system would be right for your lifestyle block contact Tank Vac: 0800 tankvac.

The most common way is for rainwater to be collected in tanks or to pump water from a waterway or an underground bore.

If water is already piped onto the property from elsewhere, be sure you find out where it comes from and check for easements or permission allowing this to continue – even in summer dry periods.

Sewage disposal is often to a septic tank, these need to be emptied periodically.

It is possible that you will need to install a new water supply or sewage disposal system – especially if the property is bare land.

Rural landowners are also  responsible for the ongoing maintenance of water supply and sewage disposal systems – you’ll need to know how to maintain pumps and clear blocked drains, or how to contract somebody who does!