Rainwater Tank Design and Installation Handbook First Edition - January 2006

HB 230 — 2006

ISBN 0 7337 7237 4

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HB 230—2006

Handbook

Rainwater Tank Design and Installation Handbook

First published as HB 230—2006.

COPYRIGHT

© Standards Australia

All rights are reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or copied in any form or by

any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without the written

permission of the publisher.

Published by Standards Australia, GPO Box 476, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia

ISBN 0 7337 7237 4

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HB 230—2006 2

First Edition January 2006

PREFACE

This handbook has been developed to provide practical information for the

collection, storage and use of rainwater within an urban environment on

private residential property.

The Rainwater Tank Design and Installation Handbook has been developed

by the Australian Rainwater Industry Development Association (ARID) to

assist Local Councils, Plumbers, Builders/Developers and homeowners. It

outlines the minimum standards and performance requirements criteria for

all development works associated with carrying out rainwater tank

installations within private property. It applies to new rainwater tank

installations as well as alterations, additions, maintenance and repairs to

existing installations.

ARID was established by the Master Plumbers & Mechanical Services

Association of Australia in August 2004 in response to the rainwater

industry’s concerns that there was no national body representing the

installation issues of rainwater tanks. ARID’s goal is to develop nationally

consistent rainwater and plumbing technologies and installation

recommendations.

Further information: www.arid.asn.au

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3 HB 230—2006

First Edition January 2006

CONTENTS

PREFACE....................................................................................................... 2

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................... 6

CHAPTER 2 PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES................................................ 7

CHAPTER 3 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS.......................................... 8

Rainwater Supply.........................................................................................................8

New and Existing Dwellings Rural..............................................................................8

New and Existing Dwellings Urban.............................................................................9

Rainwater Supply Installations ...................................................................................9

CHAPTER 4 DESIGN AND INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS....................10

Amenity.......................................................................................................................10

Legislation...................................................................................................................10

Rainwater Tank Setback Requirements ...................................................................10

Authorization Materials and Products .....................................................................11

Tank Materials ...........................................................................................................11

Rainwater Storage Tanks ..........................................................................................11

Products in Contact with the Network Utility Drinking Water ..............................12

Devices for Control of Rainwater and Water Utilities Supply Connections...........12

Stormwater .................................................................................................................12

Rainwater Tank Openings.........................................................................................13

Underground Rainwater Tanks ................................................................................14

Hydrostatic Lift—Ballast Calculations.....................................................................14

Installation Site Assumptions ....................................................................................14

Procedure (see Figure 1) ............................................................................................15

Rainwater Service Pipe from Rainwater Tank ........................................................16

Hot Water ...................................................................................................................16

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HB 230—2006 4

First Edition January 2006

CHAPTER 5 PRESSURE AND PUMP REQUIREMENTS..............................17

Pump Selection Criteria.............................................................................................17

Pump Noise .................................................................................................................18

Minimum and Maximum Flow Rates .......................................................................18

CHAPTER 6 RAINWATER MARKING AND LABELLING.............................20

Pipe Markings ............................................................................................................20

External Hose Tap Signage........................................................................................21

CHAPTER 7 RAINWATER TANK SIZING.....................................................22

Bushfire Rainwater Storage Requirements ..............................................................22

CHAPTER 8 BACKFLOW PREVENTION REQUIREMENTS ........................23

Network Utility Operators Water Supply Tank Top Up Requirements.................24

Rainwater Tank Town Main Top Up Air Gap .........................................................24

Connection between Service Pipes—Rainwater and Network Utilities Operators’

Water Supply..............................................................................................................24

CHAPTER 9 RAINWATER TREATMENT DEVICES .....................................25

Pre-treatment Devices................................................................................................25

Mosquito Control .......................................................................................................25

Rainwater Filtration ..................................................................................................26

Rainwater Treatment.................................................................................................29

Ultraviolet Light Radiation Treatment.....................................................................29

CHAPTER 10 RAINWATER STORAGE MAINTANCE GUIDELINES............30

Managing Rainwater Quality ....................................................................................30

Preventive Measures and Corrective Action ............................................................30

Minimizing Contamination........................................................................................30

Monitoring and Maintenance ....................................................................................34

CHAPTER 11 RAINFALL DATA...................................................................35

Australian Annual Rainfall Averages .......................................................................35

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5 HB 230—2006

First Edition January 2006

CHAPTER 12 CALCULATING EXPECTED ANNUAL RAINWATER CATCHMENT ................................................................................................36

Formula ......................................................................................................................36

CHAPTER 13 AVERAGE WATER CONSUMPTION VALUES FOR URBAN ACTIVITIES ...................................................................................................38

Average Householder Water Consumption Percentages .........................................39

CHAPTER 14 ACCECPTABLE RAINWATER INSTALLATIONS TECNHNICAL DRAWINGS............................................................................40

CHAPTER 15 HOUSEHOLDER—RAINWATER TANK CHECKLIST ............48

CHAPTER 16 ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................51

CHAPTER 17 GLOSSARY OF TERMS.........................................................52

CHAPTER 18 REFERENCES .......................................................................70

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HB 230—2006 6

First Edition January 2006

Rainwater Tank Design and Installation Handbook

C H A P T E R 1 I N T R O D U C T I O N

The Rainwater Tank Design and Installation Handbook has been developed

by the Australian Rainwater Industry Development Association (ARID) to

assist local councils, plumbers, builders/developers and homeowners and

outlines the minimum standards and performance requirements criteria for

all development works associated with carrying out rainwater tank

installations within private property. It applies to new rainwater tank

installations as well as alterations, additions, maintenance and repairs to

existing installations.

This Handbook is intended to be consistent with the various regulations and

requirements. However, installers are advised to check with the plumbing

authority regarding local conditions and requirements.

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