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Rainwater Tank Stands: Benefits and Considerations

Benefits of a Rainwater to Mains Water Switch Many people do not realise that their rainwater tank can be placed upon a stand. Stands for rainwater tanks can add a bit more style and provide a practical solution to some challenges that might arise when installing a water tank. This article takes a look at some benefits a water tank stand provides and what you should consider when buying one.

Rainwater Tanks Stand Benefits

Placing your rainwater tank on a water tank stand provides:
  1. a stable base where it may be difficult to set a rainwater tank directly on the ground, such as properties on slopes or with steep inclines.
  2. natural water pressure, the higher your tank is the more water pressure it can produce on its own without a water pump.
  3. a stronger natural overflow into your stormwater or second tank.

Water Pressure Benefits of Tanks Placed High

How high your water tank is located affects the natural water pressure that it can produce. If your tank is positioned high enough, then you can “gravity feed” water to your taps without the use of a pump. Understand however, for decent water pressure your tank has to be about 10 metres higher. Sometimes a smaller but higher header tank can be used, however in many home situations getting your water tank high enough could be quite challenging.  Due to this challenge, creating a “gravity feed” system is normally ideal for large rural properties on slopes, or smaller properties with high spots due to sharp inclines. To give a general idea of water pressure height can generate, water pressure supplied from Councils are generally 276 kPa (40 psi). Household pumps range often from 103­276 kPa (15 – 40 psi). A tank placed one metre high gives 10.3 kPa (1.5 psi), so a tank needs to be around 10 metres high to provide the minimum pump pressure of 103 kPa (15 psi).

Considering a Water Tank Stand?

It is important to remember that a tank full of water is extremely heavy. 1 litre of water weighs 1 kilogram, so even a small 1000 litre weighs more than a tonne! That is a lot of weight your stand needs to be able to support, so it is crucially important that any tank stand be engineered to withstand the weight of your tank once full of rainwater. Many off-the-shelf stands are available for smaller tanks. Frames are normally made from galvanised steel for durability, treated hardwood decking and legs that can be bolted down. Others can be more complicated and require very specific requirements to meet the size and capacity of your tank. We do not recommend that you create a tank stand yourself, but hire an experienced professional. The last thing you want is your stand collapsing and flooding your home, wrecking your water tank or being up for great expense. Generally however, your stand should be:
  1. prepared with strong treated hardwood decking with gaps no greater than 50mm (2″)
  2. supported structurally with bearers strong enough to prevent sagging of decking when tank is full
  3. on a flat hard surface which will not sink that it can be bolted down to .
Rainwater tanks alone can be quite heavy. So if your tanks needs to be placed upon a stand then you should mention this upon purchasing to ensure the delivery truck comes with a crane to lift your tank into place. Once in place, remember to tie your tank down to the stand so the wind will not blow it off the stand.