Managing water stored in rain water tanks

Rainwater tanks are becoming more widely used, especially in water scarce South Africa where municipal water supplies can also be unreliable.

Rainwater in tanks needs to be managed to ensure it is safely and efficiently utilised:

• A first flush or mesh sieve should be installed before the rainwater enters the water tank. Also ensure that there are no other openings to allow debris and mosquitoes, etc, into the tank. This will prolong the cleaning/maintenance periods and ensure that the store water is cleaner and safer.
• In South Africa, most regions receive rainfall in the summer. This is often a time when garden and lawn irrigation is not needed due to rainfall. The water tanks will fill up and even overflow. It is recommended that the rainwater in the tanks still be used wherever and whenever possible during the rainy season. This will ensure that the stored rainwater does not become stagnant and fresh rainwater is always topping the tank up.
• Your stored rainwater will most often be needed during the winter months in South Africa (a dry season in most of South Africa). If a simple rainwater harvesting system has been installed, use the rainwater for garden irrigation, washing the car and other outdoor uses – this is the easiest and most efficient use and your normal water supply can be used for drinking and indoor uses. More sophisticated rainwater systems can integrate with your existing water supply and water filtration can make rainwater safe to drink. As you have harvested the rainwater for free, it makes sense to use the rainwater for ‘bulk uses’ such as filling the swimming pool or for garden irrigation (rainwater is much better for plants than chemical-laden municipal water).
• Rainwater tanks need to be cleaned periodically which will require the stored water in the tank to be emptied – ensure that this water is put to a good use and not wasted!

Rainwater tanks are not ‘fit and forget’ but it helps to buy water tanks that require less maintenance. We recommend JoJo water tanks and rainwater tanks – they are made with food-grade raw materials and have an inner black anti-algae lining. Click on the links below to view the wide range of JoJo Tanks products available in South Africa.

JoJo Tanks South Africa offer a wide range of products such as plastic water tanks and chemical tanks to suit every household, business or agricultural need, including silo tanks and silo tank stands as well as other high quality JoJo Tanks products.  See JoJo Tanks’ VERTICAL TANKS, HORIZONTAL TANKS (transporter tanks), STEEL TANK STANDS and OTHER JOJO PRODUCTS and see JoJo Tanks’ NEW 6000 LITRE UNDERGROUND TANKS. Also see our FAQ and WATER TANK PRICES.