Grey Water Tank

[Clinton1]

Ern,
Bluescope Steel sell the corrugated water tanks (with liner) and I have a sneaking suspision that they can make and assemble on site??
I remember seeing these "made on site" or "assembled on site" tanks when I was at the Seymor Ag Show. They are put together pretty quick and then lined.
Might be worth a look if you can find the makers. The manufacturer was making everything from @ 2000 lt to discharge tanks for industry and grain silos. From memory it was a little dearer, but not my much.

[Michael Breen]

This may be a bit off the side of the thread, but well..
We live in the bush and have an old septic tank into which everything goes. We only flush when we need to(solids). The water from the septic tank goes through a poly pipe 4" down the paddock to a reed bed (12x3 metres and about a metre deep)which we had scooped out by backhoe and have filled with 2" gravel and planted reeds in the gravel. The reeds, not pulled out by the sheep before fencing it off, are doing well. In the gravel I put a 44 gal drum with gashes in the sides. This provides a sump if we need to pump it out. The outflow of the reed bed drains on to a slope where we will grow fruit trees. The outflow is remarkably clear.

And as for the level of thinking in local government! They are good proof that we have too many levels of government. We just don't have the talent for three.
Great thread and thanks for the contributions which have helped me rethink and plan.
Michael

[workgoose]

Michael, your comment reminds me of when we lived in the Dandenongs near Melbourne, and we were on tank water, and happy with it. Then the mains water came through and we were required, with a threat of legal action, to remove all tanks and use mains water.I had always had a very low opinion of councils and /or politicians, but that episode really confirmed it.

[rsser]

Thanks for the tip Clinton.

http://www.bluescopewater.com.au/

Can't find a mention of on-site assembly but they do offer a 4000l job that will fit.

Stratco also make steel rainwater tanks btw.

[Iain]

If it's Stratco they will probably get it wrong and charge too much, got questionable customer service fromthem a few years ago when they undersupplied material for a carport, wouldn't back down or compensate and small claims were of no assistance whatsover.
I wound up having to purchase more sheet material to finish the job, and they quoted for 5 sheets when it only needed three, they argued the toss and reluctantly refunded for the excess material when I took it back.........after they inspected the finished carport

[rsser]

Bluescope slim 4000l tank is $2440 plus delivery ... eeek!

Going back to small steps, like fitting an overflow outlet to the wheelbarrow ;-}

Then will save up for one or two poly tanks. Seems the smaller ones are light enough for a couple of guys to manhandle over a garage so that opens up more choices. I like the look of this crowd: http://www.clarktanks.com.au/RW2000Under.htm

[Clinton1]

Ern,
220lt Food grade plastic drums are advertised in the Trading Post every week for $20 each.
They are empties from imported bulk food items. They come with a screw on lid and are heavy duty... but I'm not sure if they have a tap fitting on the base.
Could be a good interim measure.

[Michael Breen]

Michael, your comment reminds me of when we lived in the Dandenongs near Melbourne, and we were on tank water, and happy with it. Then the mains water came through and we were required, with a threat of legal action, to remove all tanks and use mains water.I had always had a very low opinion of councils and /or politicians, but that episode really confirmed it.

Thanks Workgoose. My ramblings, when I thought about them more, were really the suggestion that we ought to challenge Local Govt officials more and not take them too seriously. The ones around here in our "amalgamated" shire are battling to manage weeds, woads, wates and wubbish. Most of what they deal with is simply beyond them. Apologies to any decent LGov woodies.
Michael

[journeyman Mick]

Ern,
You can get 1000l pallet tanks (about 1200 x 1000 x 1000H). They're mounted on a plastic pallet and surrounded by a steel cage and they're stackable. I sell them for $150 but I think the freight might be a killer to your place. Try chemical suppliers and agricultural supplies near you.

Mick

[rsser]

Thanks for the tips folks.

I also came across this kinda neat package solution:

http://www.rainreviva.com.au/default.asp

Something else to consider.

Just waiting for

[Stuart]

Ern,
You can get 1000l pallet tanks (about 1200 x 1000 x 1000H). They're mounted on a plastic pallet and surrounded by a steel cage and they're stackable. I sell them for $150 but I think the freight might be a killer to your place. Try chemical suppliers and agricultural supplies near you.

Mick

Has anyone found a source of these in Melbourne? I am very keen to get my hands on one at that price.

Even the 220l food transport bins mentioned above would be good - at $20 it is a damned sight cheaper than the 240L wheeled rubbish bin. My current bin (120L) isn't big enough to collect all the grey water I am already creating!

Have already pumped over 1000L of water onto my garden and grass - it's ALL good Finally being able to utilise this otherwise wasted water feels great.

And finally - someone tell that ***** federal politician that any rainwater that goes into a tank isn't "denying the environment" because pretty much all of it flows directly to the sea through the stormwater system. What - the sea is going to get salter or something? And when the water I collect IS used, where is it going to go then? Either actually into the environment (rather than just the sea), or into the sewage system, where it can be reclaimed and used in the environment, or, flow to the sea. So who suffering (other than some 3rd party who's paying kickbacks to the politicians to be able to get our discharged water, and charge us for it, or it's reuse). Don't even THING of taxing me for trying to do the right thing for Melbourne's water situation. It would be a LOT cheaper if I just used mains water, or let my small part of the environment die. Smackerhead.

[Iain]

I saw them on ebay, someone in Somerton, or out that way, had a heapof them.
The big blue ones I have seen at various stockfeed places and 'bargain' centres, try a local equestrian shop, if they haven't got them they can probably point you in the right direction.
We got a heap of them from a cosmetic manufacturer, they contained all the goop that the other species love to smear themselves in, and it is all in a heavy poly liner within the bin so it is not tainted.

[joez]

Ern, not sure where your bases but theres a guy at the epping trash n treasure who sells them, usually the blue 240L Drum type but I have seen the 1000l caged version at his stand.


joez71

[rsser]

Thanks Joez.

Stuart, there were some 1k l pallet tanks advertised in the Trading Post before Xmas; might be worth checking to see if they're still around.

[rsser]

btw, for what it's worth Stuart, I do think the effects of rainwater harvesting need to be considered. Up my way there are three urban creeks that carry the stormwater; all three have had extensive tree planting and many native birds now use them for habitat and migration corridors. I'd hate to seem them turn into ponds of algae affected stagnant water.

I have no idea of what amount of diversion might result in this. Maybe some studies have been done or need to be done.