Transfer Tanks

How to maximise your rainwater collection.

The most important aspect to maximising rainwater collection is the connected roof area - the larger the catchment the more water you're going to collect. However this can often be difficult to do because down-pipes are often located right around the house. One option is to have multiple rainwater tanks, although this can be expensive and often undesirable as tank location can be a sensitive issue (not everyone thinks they're beautiful.

Another option is having transfer units - small tanks located at the downpipes and then piped to the main tank. The transfer tank is fitted with a submersible pump complete with a float switch. As the tank fills up, the float switch rises and activates the pump which then pumps the contents to the main storage tank. Very simple.

Costs are quite modest compared to additional storage tanks - you can get a bilge pump for around $50 (I used a 300W Commercial Electric unit), a small tank for around $15 (I used a 60L Willow storage bin), and piping and fittings cost about another $50, depending on how much piping you need to connect to the tank.

So, for a modest outlay, you can increase your rainwater collection and maximise utilisation of your rainwater tank.