Water Storage Tanks For Your Home

In tropical regions, there is an increasing need for water storage tanks on individual properties. Water scarcity is a growing concern in many countries due to climate change. Public water supply resources are under mounting pressure to meet the demands of their rising population.

As such, there is a growing need to have backup storage tanks for potable water to ensure you and your family always have a consistent supply of water. It is a good idea to store potable water for things like cooking and drinking. You can also store rainwater collected from your roof for non-potable purposes.

Water Scarcity

One of the main global concerns today is that of water scarcity. Approximately two-thirds of the world’s population is affected by this for at least some part of the year. The increasing demand for fresh water due to the rising population is putting a strain on water supplies. Our changing water consumption patterns along with wasteful practices are creating a water crisis in various parts of the world.

The apparent change in normal weather patterns due to climate change is creating further concerns. In tropical regions, the wet season is getting shorter and producing less rainfall.

In Barbados where I live, we are accustomed to having a wet and a dry season. However, it seems that recently we have been having a dry and a drier season. Our governmental water supply system has severe challenges supplying the country with its water needs. It is plagued with low pressure and service interruptions daily.

Therefore, it is a good idea to provide your own backup water supply. This ensures that the water needs of your family are always maintained during water outages.

I think every home located in water-scarce countries should implement some form of large water storage.

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If you are considering adding water storage tanks to your home here are some things you can consider.

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Potable Water

Potable or safe drinking water is a right and a necessity to all human beings. Water is essential for our existence and we use it in many ways in our homes.

Water outages, depending on where you live can occur frequently and are a terrible inconvenience.

Installing a water tank for storing potable water is a great idea if you have issues with consistent water supply in your country.

This can be done in several different ways with varying levels of convenience and efficiency to you in your home. It is ideal to have the tank supply the entire home so that your normal daily activity is not interrupted during a water outage. The water main supply could be connected directly to your tank. The tank can then feed your entire home. A by-pass system could also be introduced in the event of a power outage. Hence, water could still be supplied directly from the main.

Your specific system requirements can be discussed with your designer.

Rainwater

You can harvest rainwater from the roof of your home and store it in a tank. This is a terrific sustainable strategy for reducing your consumption of potable water for non-potable uses.

Task such as washing your car, watering your kitchen garden or washing pet or other animal urine from your yard need not require clean drinking water. It could also be used for flushing your toilet, provided this is allowed in your country.

Some countries specify rainwater storage as a requirement for planning permission. However, if this is not required for your project, I still think it is a good addition, especially in water-scarce tropical countries.

Rainwater can be supplied to most if not all your exterior pipes around your home.

Under or Above Ground

Your potable and rainwater storage tanks could be located above or below ground. They could even be elevated like at roof level. The location of your tank may depend on a few factors.

An underground tank can be convenient and out of the way. It is a useful option where space above ground is not available. Hidden from view, it would not impact on the architectural design of your home. Depending on where you locate it, it could also make use of foundation walls already required for your project.

However, to access any water form an underground tank, it must be pumped. 

Finding a convenient location for a tank or multiple tanks above ground can be a challenge on small sites.

Also, they may either need to be screened or incorporated into the design of the home so as not to impact its appearance.

Water going to plumbing fixtures inside your home will have to be pumped. However, you may be able to access gravity-fed water directly from the tank location in the event of an electrical power outage. Perhaps some low-level taps around your home can also be gravity fed.

Elevated tanks that are above all the plumbing fixtures in your home can supply water to your home without the use of a pump. This is good for potable water tanks. 

However, if your area has issues with low water pressure, then water may need to be pumped to the tank from the main.

Pumped or Gravity Fed

The location of your water tank will determine if water will need to be pumped or if it can use gravity to supply your faucets.

Using gravity provides the benefit of not having to rely on a mechanical pump as well as electrical power for water supply. Potable water could be supplied to your home naturally.

However, as it is not always convenient to have an elevated water storage tank on your home, I would recommend having your pump being supplied by electricity for a renewable source such as solar energy. This is will ensure you do not lose water supply to your home if the electricity goes out.

This can be a good strategy for resilience and is particularly useful after a storm or hurricane where both the water and electricity may be off.

Conclusion

Water storage tanks are a great addition to any tropical home in a water-scarce country. With increasing demands on water supplies, it is a good idea to provide your own water storage for your home.

It is ideal to have a stored supply of potable water for cooking and drinking, as well as rainwater for irrigation and washing your car.

These tanks can be above or below ground. They can also be elevated to utilise gravity for distributing the water from the tanks.

The benefits of having water storage tanks at your home are numerous. Water is an essential part of our body and hygiene. Creating water storage in your home will provide you and your family with the comfort and peace of mind that you will always have access to this commodity.

Featured image by mrjn Photography on Unsplash