| One of the biggest drains of a city's water supply | | | | Using rainwater for your gardens is also a great |
| can come from people using their water for | | | | idea because you don't have to do anything to |
| gardening. Many people enjoy the look of beautiful | | | | the water before you use it for your plants and |
| lawns and lush gardens, however this is using | | | | vegetables. In fact, some research shows the |
| precious water that is needed for bathing or | | | | water even healthier than watering them out of |
| cooking or drinking. Gardens account for most of | | | | your own water supply, depending on where your |
| the water used in the home and is therefore the | | | | local water comes from. Water from the tap is |
| the biggest domestic contributer to the water | | | | treated with chemicals to make sure there is no |
| shortage. No matter what type of water | | | | harmful bacteria, strange colours or smells. Pipes |
| problems you are experience, and whether you | | | | that deliver the mains water can be over 50 |
| are in Sydney, Brisbane, or Perth, or anywhere | | | | years old and fill of rust, dirt, tree roots and other |
| else in the world for that matter, there is a way | | | | nasty pollutants! Compare that to rainwater which |
| to have lush gardens without using up your city's | | | | falls directly from the sky. |
| water supply. | | | | To get the water from the tank to your garden |
| Using rainwater tanks is the perfect way for you | | | | there is a few options. This can be as simple as |
| to create the garden of your dreams and keep it | | | | watering can or hose for small blocks, or with an |
| green all year round. To build a system that is | | | | integrated set up with pumps and controllers |
| suitable for your garden you need to calculate a) | | | | which is better for larger gardens. If you are |
| how much water you need and b) how much | | | | concerned with small particles getting caught in |
| water you get. Local rainfall tables are available | | | | the sprinklers or you also intend on using the |
| from the local weather website. By using slimline | | | | water in your home then you might consider a |
| tanks you can keep your tanks out of the way | | | | first- flush filter or an inline filter to take out any |
| so they don't take up valuable space in your | | | | dirt or sediment. Spiders, Mosquitoes, frogs and |
| garden. If you can't afford a big tank, use a | | | | other creepy crawlies love water tanks so make |
| modular tank so you can start with one and join | | | | sure all openings are covered with mosquito wire. |
| on another one next year. Slimline tanks are | | | | Rainwater tanks will make big difference to your |
| typically round or elliptical, and can look a bit | | | | garden and water use and will cost you a lot less |
| unsightly in your backyard however some new | | | | than you think. Rain is free so we might as well |
| tanks are rectangular and flat so that fit together | | | | use it! |
| and look just like a normal wall or fence | | | | |