How to Link Multiple Rainwater Tanks Together And It's Benefits
Linking rainwater tanks together is an easy way to increase your water storage capacity without significant plumbing work. This article will explore what options are available when it comes to linking multiple rainwater tanks together and their advantages.
Option 1. Linking Tanks to Fill Evenly
To link tanks together so that they both evenly fill is accomplished by linking the tanks together near the bottom at their sides with piping. As your first tank fills up and water reaches the height of your link, rainwater will flow into your second tank until it attains the same height. At this point, both tanks will evenly fill up until full.
A benefit to this setup means you only need to tap off and/or pump water from your first tank (or tank that is lowest). Equally only one overflow is required in such a setup. It is important with tanks of different heights, that the tops (overflow) be aligned with each other. This normally means raising the smaller tank up on a higher foundation, or digging out beneath your taller tank before establishing its foundations.
It is important to include isolation valves if using this method, so that if one tank springs a leak, it will not drain all your tanks of their stored rainwater.
Option 2. Linking Tanks to Fill One at a Time
Tanks linked in series through their overflow will result in your first tank needing to fill up before rainwater flows into the next. The last tank in the series is setup with an overflow to expel excess water to your stormwater drainage as per a normal single tank setup.
To use water in all your tanks, each tank needs tapping and/or to be connected via piping at your desirable outlet level on their side. All tanks are piped from their outlet to underground piping that leads to your pump. Again, you should have isolation valves at your tank outlets so the release of water in a tank can be controlled.
While more complicated, this setup also can provide you with the best of both worlds should you desire tanks to fill up at the same time, simply open all valves. If individually, one after the other, close all except the first and open the next in the series as needed. This can be performed manually, or auto-switching can be setup to refill your storage tank should it drop below a certain level.
Benefits of Linking Multiple Rainwater Tanks
Linking rainwater tanks together is an easy way to increase your water storage capacity without significant plumbing work. This article will consider some benefits that linking multiple rainwater tanks together can provide you with.
A more modular water storage system, like a multiple water tank setup, means should one tank spring a leak then you don’t stand to lose all your rainwater.
That tank can be isolated and/or have water pumped into your other tanks before it is fixed and/or replaced.In summary:
- Multiple tanks can be more cost-effective than buying one very large tank
- Multiple tanks can have lower maintenance and replacement costs than one very large tank
- Multiple tanks provide a convenient way to maximise rainwater harvesting with multiple roofs or many downpipes
- Water storage can be expanded with extra tanks as needed
- Multiple water tanks provide higher fault tolerance due to modular nature (if one tank is damaged, it can be fixed or another ordered while the other tank/s still harvest rainwater)
Linking Tanks to Fill Evenly
To link tanks together so that they both evenly fill is accomplished by linking the tanks together near the bottom at their sides with piping. As your first tank fills up and water reaches the height of your link, rainwater will flow into your second tank until it attains the same height.At this point, both tanks will evenly fill up until full.A benefit to this setup means you only need to tap off and/or pump water from your first tank (or tank that is lowest). Equally only one overflow is required in such a setup. It is important with tanks of different heights, that the tops (overflow) be aligned with each other.
This normally means raising the smaller tank up on a higher foundation, or digging out beneath your taller tank before establishing its foundations.It is important to include isolation valves if using this method, so that if one tank springs a leak, it will not drain all your tanks of their stored rainwater.
Linking Tanks to Fill One at a Time
Tanks linked in series through their overflow will result in your first tank needing to fill up before rainwater flows into the next. The last tank in the series is setup with an overflow to expel excess water to your storm water drainage as per a normal single tank setup.To use water in all your tanks, each tank needs tapping and/or to be connected via piping at your desirable outlet level on their side. All tanks are piped from their outlet to underground piping that leads to your pump.
Again, you should have isolation valves at your tank outlets so the release of water in a tank can be controlled. This setup while more complicated, also can provide you with the best of both worlds should you desire tanks to fill up at the same time, simply open all valves. If individually, one after the other, close all except the first and open the next in the series as needed. This can be performed manually, or auto-switching can be setup to refill your storage tank should it drop below a certain level.
On this Page
- Option 1. Linking Tanks to Fill Evenly
- Option 2. Linking Tanks to Fill One at a Time
- Benefits of Linking Multiple Rainwater Tanks
- Better Tank Prices
- Lower Maintenance Costs
- Maximise Capture of Rainwater Harvestable
- Expandable Water Storage
- Water Storage Fault Tolerance
- Linking Tanks to Fill Evenly
- Linking Tanks to Fill One at a Time