first flush water diverters - water quality

8/9/2019 First Flush Water Diverters - Water Quality

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Helpsreducepollutionoyourtankwater! Essentialwhenusingrainwaterinsideoroutside

Amountowaterdivertediscustomisedto

specifcrequirementsoeachroo

Divertscontaminatedwatertothegarden

Protectsrainwaterpumpsand

internalappliances

Available in kit orm just add PVC pipe

Simple, eective and easy to install Includes Slow Release Control Valve -

empties ater rain and resets automatically Can be painted to match the home No mechanical parts nothing to wear out

water quality frstdownpipe, post/wall mounted

and in-ground diverters

Available in kit orm just add PVC pipe

Simple, eective and easy to install Includes Slow Release Control Valve -

empties ater rain and resets automatically Can be painted to match the home No mechanical parts nothing to wear out


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How do Fit Fluh Wt Divt wok?Fitting an apprpriately sied water diverter, ten called r washers,is critical t achieve gd qality water. Water diverters imprve waterqality and redce tank maintenance by preventing the rst fush owater, which may contain roo contaminants, rom entering the tank.They help ensre cleaner water is available r se, which helps protect

rainwater pumps and internal household appliances sch as cltheswashing machines, tilets, ht water systems, etc.

When it rains, water slwly bilds p in the r gttering system bereit exits thrgh the dwnpipe. The rst fush o water rom the roo cancontain amnts bacteria rm decmpsed insects, skinks, birdand animal drppings and cncentrated tannic acid. It may als cntainsediment, water brne heavy metals and chemical resides, all which

are undesirable elements to have in a water storage system.

Instead wing t the rainwater tank, these plltants are diverted withthe initial w water int the chamber the water diverter. The waterdiverters rm Rain Harvesting tilise a dependable ball and seat system- a simple automatic system that does not rely

on mechanical parts or manual Intervention.

Fitting an appropriately sizedwater diverter is critical toachieve good quality water.


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As the water level rises in the diverter chamber the ball ats, and nce

the chamber i ll, the ball rests n a seat inside the diverter chamberpreventing any rther water entering the diverter. The sbseqent w water is then atmatically directed alng the pipe system t the tank.A Slow Release Control Valve ensures the chamber empties itsel aterrain and resets atmatically. The diverted water need nt be wastedwater becase the drain pipe rm the diverter chamber can be ftted t astandard drip irrigatin system.

Gttig th bt poc o

Fit Fluh Wt DivtWater Diverters wrk best when a gtter dwnpipe rain head is installedpstream the diverter. Fitted at the dwnpipe either directly n thenderside the r gtter r t a wall, the Lea Eater r Lea Beaterrain heads, als rm Rain Harvesting, are sel cleaning devices thatdeect leaves and debris away rm the w rainwater. Nt nly dthese devices help stp gtters blcking with leaves and debris, they alsprevent eaves ding dring heavy rainall.

By deecting larger debris pstream, rain heads ensre the diverterchamber and Slw Release Cntrl Valve d nt blck p as easily.Rain heads not only help Water Diverters operate more eciently inpreventing ne sediments and pollutants rom entering the rainwatertank, they also ensure Water Diverters drain and reset automaticallyater rainall, signicantly reducing system maintenance.

Lea Eaterrain headsensure Water Diverters drainand reset automatically ater

rainall and signicantlyreduce system maintenance

The Diverter Chamberempties through a SlowRelease Control Valve andcan be connected to standarddripper irrigation systems


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Clcultig th out o wt to divtIndstry experience and feld testing sggests that the amnt waterdiverted shld be determined based n (1) the srace area the r,and (2) the amnt plltants n the r. The llwing actrs canbe sed as a gide in determining the vlme water t be diverted.

As a rule o thumb, the more water that is diverted the better thequality o water in the tank.

Rain Harvesting Waters Diverters are sld in kit rm and incrpratestandard 3, 4 r 12 PVC pipes as the diverter chamber sectin. Thelength pipe sed will vary depending n the vlme t be diverted.Diverters with a variable volume chamber are better than fxed-vlmediverters because the volume o diverted water can be customised tthe specifc reqirements each r.

PoLLuTIoN FACToR FoR THE RooF

Minimal Pollution divert 1 pint (0.5 litre) per 10 square eet o roo areaopen feld, n trees, n bird drppings, clean envirnment

Substantial Pollution divert 4 pints (2 litres)per 10 square eet o roo area

Leaves and debris, bird drppings, varis animal matter, e.g.dead insects, skinks etc.

DIVERSIoN FACToR FoR A FIRST FLuSH WATER DIVERTER

Sqare Ft R Area X Plltin Factr = Rainwater t be diverted.Example or a minimal polluted roo o 1000 square eet

(100 square meters)1000 sqare eet X (1/10) = 100 pints (50 litres) t be diverted.

Example or a heavily polluted roo o 1000 square eet1000 sqare eet X (4/10) = 400 pints (200 litres) t be diverted.

Tp vilblThree types are available - all reqire minimal maintenance and willimprve water qality. The vlme water t be diverted, type

dwpipe system and site characteristics will determine the type diverter reqired.

Standard 3, 4or 12 PVC pipes areused as the diverter chamber section.The length o pipe used will varydepending on thevolume to be diverted.


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WeT anD Dry sysTems

D tThe pipe system rns direct rm the gtter int the tank. The pipes draint ater rain and d nt hld water when the rain stps. Dry systemsare best becase water sitting idle in pipes can becme stagnant andprvides a ptential breeding grnd r msqites. Y can remvethe secndary stainless steel screen inclded with the Lea Eater, LeaBeater and Rain Catcher rain heads in dry systems, and this will helpthem perrm better. Nte: In the case the Lea Eater, the secndaryscreen rame mst be reftted r the primary screen t rest n.

Fit Leaf Eater, Leaf Eater or

Rain Catcher rain heads

Fit insect proof screens or Flap Valves

to inlet pipes to prevent mosquitoesfrom breeding in the wet system

Water Storage Tank

Ground Level

Aerobic Zone

Anaerobic Zone

Select eitherDownpipe,Post/WallMounted orIn-GroundWater Diverters

0.955mm Tank Screen

Fit Roof Gutterswith appropriate fall

Underground pipes hold watercontinuously and never dryout. Mosquitoes will breed inthe water pipe systems if eachopening is not protected witha 1mm aperture screen.

Fit insect proof screens orFlap Valves to Tank OverflowOutlets which draw waterfrom the Anaerobic Zone

Fit Leaf Eater, Leaf Beateror Rain Catcher rain heads

with insect proof secondary

screens to downpipes

Wt tThe pipes rm the gtter g dwn the wall and ndergrnd and thenp int the tank. Becase the pipes are ndergrnd and belw the entry

pint t the tank, even dring perids witht rainall water remains in thepipes. Where pipes hld water they mst be screened with a nn-crrsivescreen nt mre than 1mm apertre t prevent the entry msqitesand vermin. The Lea Eater, Lea Beater and Rain Catcher rainheadsinclde stainless steel screens t prevent msqites and ther pestsaccessing the pipe system and are designed t meet alllegislative gidelines.

Wet systems can be cnverted t dry by installing an in-grnd waterdiverter that nt nly diverts the frst sh cntaminated water rm ther, bt als drains water rm the ndergrnd pipe system n a slpingsite. (Visit www.rainharvesting.cm r mre inrmatin).


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A simple and eective frst sh device reqiring minimal maintenance.Installed at the gutter downpipe or via a T-junction t a new r existingsystem 3 r 4diameter PVC dwnpipes. Add the appropriate lengtho pipe based on the quantity o water you wish to divert.

Cnsider as a gide that each and each 1 yard 4 PVC pipe hldsapprximately 2 gallns water.

It is preerable to t the longest length chamber as possible to ensurebetter quality water. Install rm the r gtter and ater the rain head,and ensre a gap a minimm 6 abve the grnd t allw easyaccess t the end cap.

Dwnpipe Diverters shld be installed at each downpipe that supplieswater to the tank system and are ideal diverters r se with ndereaves tanks.

As a rule o thumb, the more waterthat is diverted the better the qualityo water in the tank.

(Above) A galvanized steel standis an optional alternative to postor wall mounting.(Let) Downpipe Diverter installedwith a Lea Beater rain head, both

painted to match metal downpipes.


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A versatile nit that can be mnted n a wall, pst r stand, to hold

larger volumes. Can be adapted t sit a wide range applicatins and

will manage single or multiple pipes cming rm the r t divert

between 5 and 39 gallns. Incldes a galvanied steel mnting bracket

and saddle. A galvanied steel stand is an ptinal alternative t pst

r wall mnting. Add the apprpriate length 12 pipe based n the

qantity water y wish t divert. Fr example, a 80 length 12

diameter PVC pipe is reqired t hld 39 gallns diverted water.

The kit is easy t reight, and the diverter vlme can be made n site t

match exact reqirements.

12

Minimum 6 clearance

required

SIzES PIPE ToTAL

Gallns(apprx)

Lengthinches

Ttal HeightReqired inches

5 9 23.6

8 14.6 29.2

11 20.0 34.6

13 25.2 39.8

16 31.2 45.8

18 36.2 50.8

21 42.0 56.6

24 47.2 57.8

26 52.4 67.0

32 64.4 79.0

34 69.4 84.0

39 80.2 94.8


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Bried and t site, an In-Grnd Diverter is perect or slopingallotments. on a site with a minimm 5 slpe, an In-Grnd Diverterallws a wet system t be cnverted int a dry system.

Ater rainall when an In-Grnd Diverter is installed, nt nly will thediverter chamber empty, the water held in ndergrnd pipes will alsdrain t thrgh the diverter,

cnverting it t a dry system.

In-Ground Diverters are perector sloping allotments and canconvert wet systems intodry systems.

Fresh water to tank

Waterrom roo

Diverterchamber

Insect proof 1/32aperture tank screen

12

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SIzES PIPE ToTAL

Length YardsVlme in Gallms Cntained

(apprx)

1.1 20 Pls (add) thevlme water

held in the pipesectin dwn-stream the

Diverter, betweenthe Chamber andthe Flw CntrlValve / otlet.Fr every yard 4 pipe addapprximately

2 gallns.

1.6 30

2.2 39

2.7 48

3.3 58

3.8 67

4.4 76

4.9 86

5.5 95

6.0 104

6.6 114

In-Ground Water Diverter kit


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Itlltio*Detailed installatin instrctins are spplied with each Water Diverter kit.The diverters are easy t install, and imprtantly, can be adapted n sitet sit the needs the applicatin.

mitcEnsre the tlet the diverter is clear any debris. I the tlet is

blcked, the chamber will nt empty and the frst sh water when itrains will nt be diverted. Instead it will w t the tank and pllte thewater. Installing a sel-cleaning gtter dwnpipe rain head, sch as aLea Eater r Lea Beater pstream the Water Diverter will imprveperrmance the diverter and signifcantly redce maintenance.

Peridically nscrew the End Cap the water diverter t allw debrist all t. Hse r wash the Filter Screen i reqired and clean the

Slw Release Cntrl Valve.

A well maintained waterdiverter will improve waterquality and reduce tankmaintenance

Lgiltiv quitMany Lcal Athrities have develped r are develping gidelinesr the installatin rainwater tanks. In act in sme, sme states Astralia, where rainwater is the sle water spply r ver 3 millinpeple, it is law that rain heads, frst sh devices and insect prscreens are ftted when rainwater is captred and stred in tanks.

Bere installing a rainwater tank, y shld check whether yr LcalAthrity has sch gidelines in place. it is critical t keep the catchmentsystem ree bacteria at all times t harvest gd qality water.Msqites mst be kept t pipe systems and the tank t preventbreeding and the spread disease. Ensre that all plmbing wrk thatis carried t cmplies with all reglatins. I in dbt, seekpressinal advice.

In some states o Australia it is law thatrain heads, rst fush water diverters

and insect proo screens are tted whenrainwater is captured and stored in tanks.


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Itll th coplt

ri Hvtig tIn additin t its range First Flsh Water Diverters, Rain Harvesting has

develped a cmplete range rainwater tank accessries.

I y are cnsidering prchasing a rainwater tank, we recmmend

installing a cmplete system t imprve water qality and catchment

efciency, prtect pmps and internal hsehld appliances and

redce tank maintenance. Please visit www.rainharvesting.com

r mre inrmatin.

1. raIn HeaDs.Fit Lea Eater r Beater rain heads t each dwnpipe t deect leaves,debris and keep msqites t pipes that hld water (wet systems).

2. FIrsT FLUsH WaTer DIVerTers.(Smetimes called R Washers). Prevent the frst, mst cntaminatedrainwater rm entering the tank. Fit t each dwnpipe that sppliesrainwater t the tank, r install a larger diverter that can handlemltiple dwnpipes, beside the tank r in-grnd.

3. WaTer TanK.Cnsider annal rainall, r catchment area and water sage whendetermining its sie.

4. InseCT PrOOF sCreens.Fit screens r ap valves t tank verw tlets t keep msqitesand pests t and t vent the tank prperly.

5. PUmP.Select a system (i reqired) t distribte water r se insider and/rtside the hme.

Ipov wt qulit d ctcht fcic

rduc tk itc

Potct pup d houhold pplic

How To Ct th Coplt


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www.rainharvesting.com

ri Hvtig st.


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www.rainharvesting.com

Available rom:

Downpipe Water Diverter kit

Complete Rain Harvesting SystemsLea Eater Rain Head

RH190/10/06

*Cnsider the reqirements lcal athrities and have a plmbercmplete installatin where reqired.

Products or American markets developed by:

Rain Harvesting Pty Ltd

28-34 Reginald St, Rocklea QLD Australia 4106

Tel: +61 7 3248 9600 Fax: +61 7 3248 9699E: [email protected]

first flush water diverters - water quality

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