As a free and renewable resource that you can use for commercial and domestic needs, rainwater has become the go-to option for many farmers. It reduces reliance on municipal water supply and helps lower water bills. Nonetheless, it is still essential to seek effective ways of harvesting water with rainwater tanks. With the right approach, you can collect and store an adequate amount of rainwater whenever it rains. This article highlights tips for enhancing the productivity of rainwater tanks.
Install First Flush Diverters — Certain rainwater tank accessories determine the quality of water you collect. For instance, when it does not rain for some time, a gutter system collects lots of dust, debris and bird droppings. It means that all the dirt will be directed to your tank when it rains, contaminating the water. It is the reason you should install a first flush diverter and connect it to a gutter system. It ensures that the first few litres of rainwater that hit your roof and gutter system are diverted away from a rainwater tank. Once you are sure that the entire gutter system is clean, you can close the first flush device to allow clean rainwater to enter the tank. First flush devices are handy for properties with small rainwater tanks since the containers fill quickly.
Overflow — What happens when a rainwater tank gets full, but it continues to rain? Most homeowners simply let the excess rainwater flow from their tank until the rain stops. However, doing so only impacts a tank's productivity. Ideally, a rainwater storage tank should collect as much rainwater as you need, and installing an overflow makes it possible. The device allows excess water to drain to a different storage tank once the main tank is full. For instance, you can have an overflow designed to direct excess rainwater to your greenhouse for irrigation or garage for washing your cars.
Check Water Quality Regularly — Most farmers use rainwater for irrigation, watering livestock and household activities, such as bathing and washing. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that all the rainwater in a tank is usable. Unfortunately, it is not usually the case because some farmers don't inspect water quality in their tanks. If you allow the quality of water to deteriorate, your rainwater tank becomes less productive. Therefore, always inspect the rainwater in your tank regularly to ensure that it does not smell or change colour.
