Catchment Water Storage

[7Shadows]

Have a question about peoples catchment tanks. I see most of them are outside. Is there any reason they shouldn't be put in a shelter? I was going to put mine on a concrete floor under roof within some walls. I figure it'll not only look better but keep more of the creepy crawlies away. Is it just people don't want to spend a extra money to house their tanks? Thanks in advance everyone

[bgiles]

7Shadows, if you have the money, you can use your catchment tank as a FOUNDATION for an entire detached room, or incorporate it into the main structure. There was a thread on this sometime back, or you could just google Pacific Gunnite...


bamboo2u

[MarkP]

There is a state publication out that strongly recommends putting a solid roof over your catchment. They also strongly recommend a first flush device that directs the first water off the roof to waste since it is the dirtiest. If you just have shade cloth over your tank that short circuits a first flush system. If you put the tank under a hard roof that drained into it without a first flush that would also short circuit things. I can't say that is the reason they recommend a hard roof (because it is assumed that you will then have a first flush system) but it only makes sense to me. I know people with no first flush system and with shade cloth stretched flat over the tank so that it dips into the water when the tank is full and they seem to do OK but the DOH strongly recommends against that.

Rusting of the metal sides has caused many tanks to collapse. Usually the reason is that a proper overflow has not been installed and the tank gets rusty on that side as well as the dirt gets eroded from under the tank. Sooner or later the sagging tank rips at that point. However keeping rain off of the steel has to be a good thing. A good friend also methodically painted the steel sections of the tank with a coat of red rust preventive paint followed by a decorative coat of latex prior to assembly. I think that this is the kind of thing it makes sense for us DIYers to do since we have the time and our own best interests in mind.

[EightFingers]

I've seen a couple houses that had catchment as part of their house. One of them had a tank that was built from concrete blocks and had a liner. Took up a lot of first floor space in the house tho'. I'd be a little worried about leaks....

[Kelena]

My catchment lies beneath my patio, in a puka that is large enough to hold one. It is concrete on all sides. The patio was laid on top of it. There is a hatch in my patio that allows access to the catchment. The pump is submersed in the tank. I didn't conceive of this. It came that way. I am happy with that arrangement though, as it helps to keep things other than water and the pump out of the tank. The topography lent itself to this and I don't think much extra digging was required. Pacific Gunnite probably did the work but I am not sure. I like that I cannot see it. One downside is that the hatch is very heavy (sold concrete) and when you raise it very small bits of concrete debris can go in the tank. I raise it on a need-to-know basis. You know --someone comes to visit and goes missing or we have a three month long drought and I am wondering if I have enough water to bathe my dog.

[mac nut]

It is kind of expensive to put the tank under roof cover, but when I added my garage I extended the roofline to include covering my existing tank which is on a separate cement slab. The bldg dept had no problem with it and it keeps it out of sight.

[Kapohocat]

We are going to build a concrete catchment under the area for our BBQ.

I am getting tired of paying Water bills in July/Aug/Sept to keep garden going and pool filled to right level.