Rainwater Harvesting Pretoria

We all have to play our part in conserving South Africa’s most precious natural resource: Clean drinking water.

As specialists in figuring out how to ensure that your roof is correctly fitted with rainwater harvesting capabilities, Gutter Innovations has just what everyone needs!

We provide reliable guttering systems for any home or commercial building, so the excess moisture from rainfall will run off into collection points where they’ll connect directly onto tanks before being pumped up through plumbing pipes and sent downspouts near plants requiring extra irrigation – creating a sustainable solution without sacrificing aesthetics.

With water scarcity on the rise, it’s more important than ever to find ways of capturing and storing rainwater as a water banking system, a rainwater harvesting system to irrigate your garden or be integrated into the plumbing system of your home or a commercial building.

We design and install the appropriate guttering system up to the tank.

Ask your water tank installer to contact us for the perfect system leading up to the tank.  We will also be able to refer you to independent, verified installers of tank systems.

Harvesting rainwater for sustainable use is a great way to help control the impact we have on our environment. It can be done at any level, from simple harvesting systems in your backyard to complete installations that integrate with an irrigation system and household plumbing fixtures!

Rainwater harvesting is viewed as socially and environmentally responsible and promotes self-sufficiency.  You can reduce your dependence on municipally treated water by using rainwater harvesting systems to supply water for some or all of our water needs.

Rainwater can be used for irrigation in landscaping projects or directly ingested by plants as they’re not subjected to any chemicals that may harm them. Rainwater is FREE!  You only pay the initial installation cost, which will outweigh your spending on bottled drinking water or having a long-term sustainable water supply.

Harvesting rainwater is a great way to save money on your utility bill. You will be able to identify what areas are used mainly within the house and implement conservation methods there so that all residents benefit from lower household usage rates while still enjoying a lovely green garden.

Consider rainwater harvesting if you’re looking for an environmentally friendly way to cut your water use. The practice reduces soil erosion and flood hazards by collecting excess rainfall that would otherwise run off into rivers or end up as stormwater during heavy downpours – instead, using it all within the property’s boundaries!

Using rainwater for toilet flushing, washing machines and watering the garden save precious drinking water.

Please feel free to contact us today to become an eco-warrior.

 

Rainwater Harvesting Systems in South Africa.

Our future on earth depends on how we manage and preserve water sources in the future. Since the beginning of time people harvested rainwater. The reality is that rainwater harvesting is becoming a viable alternative for water supply.

Wikipedia.

Rainwater harvesting/collection of the run-off water from a roof or other surface in order to collect for later use. Traditionally from a roof collecting in gutters that channel water through downpipes to some sort of storage. You need suitable guttering and piping to transport rainwater to the tank.

Calculating the surface area of your roof.

The surface area of your roof for rainwater collection can be calculated by using this website  https://www.wetec.co.za/rainwater-calculator/

In short:

• If you have rain fall of 1mm on 1 square meter of roof, you will have 1 liter of water.
• 1mm on 100 square meter roof area =100 liter.
• 10mm rain on 100 square meter roof = 1000 liters of water.

Consider the rainfall in your area

If your area experiences heavy rain (such as in and around Pretoria or Johannesburg for instance), or regular thunderstorms you have to consider that when designing your rainwater harvesting system.

It is important to calculate the amount of water you will harvest, and then what you want to do with the water once collected.

There is no use from an already full tank which overflows with excess rainwater. Once harvested it must be put to proper use.

Rainwater Harvesting systems can be designed to supply your whole household, or your garden and landscape needs.

Water quality

• Water collected from your roof is not clean.
• For irrigation or landscaping purposes it is ideal.
• If intended use is for household or drinking purposes, you will need a filtration system.
• The most common mistake in unsuccessful rainwater harvesting systems is a lack of storage capacity.

Benefits of Rainwater Collection

• Rainwater is clean and a free source of water.
• In cities with water restrictions, you have control over water supply and use.
• It is environmentally responsible and socially acceptable.
• It is self-sufficient and conserves water use.
• There are no chemicals or chlorine in rainwater.
• Stormwater runoff can be controlled better.
• Drainage problems can be solved.
• It is free.
• It can be an excellent back-up during emergencies or water restrictions.

When planning your rainwater harvesting system it is important to look at the following:

• Where is a suitable area to install water tanks.
• How many and what size water tanks do you have room for.
• What is the biggest roof area you can channel to your tank or tanks.
• Is your current gutter and downpipe combination suitable for this application, or do you have to re-design the gutter system for maximum harvesting.
• Once you have identified the water tank positions and size you need, you have to prepare proper foundation for the size of tank.
• The foundation must be 100 % level, preferably raised 100 or 200 mm from ground level and strong enough to safely store the weight of the water tank once fully filled with water.
• Remember 1 liter of water equals 1 kg of weight, a 1000-liter tank equals 1 ton and 5000-tank equals 5 tons.
• If you don’t have a proper level and strong foundation under your tank, it can collapse under the sideways stress and cause serious damage to your house or other structures.
• After your rainwater harvesting system is installed and ready to be used, you must decide what water quality you need.

Pre-filtration

• Always keep the roof, gutters and downpipes clean and ensure proper flow.
• See to it that overhanging branches and leaves are cut back and cleaned regularly.
• You can consider installing a gutter mesh or lave guards.
• A sieve beneath the lid of the tank can be installed.

Gutter leaf catcher/diverter

• Leaf catcher is installed under neath a downpipe to separate water from bigger debris like seeds, leaves, sticks and other undesirable elements.

First Flush system

• This device is installed along the gutter downpipe, after the leaf catcher and before the storage tank.
• The first flush system will divert any small particles and dust from your roof into a separate pipe chamber, so it does not enter the tank.
• It also stops buildup of sediment in the bottom of the tank.
• This separate pipe section must be ‘flushed’ regularly to release debris and dust.

Inspect the inside of your tank regularly to ensure that leaf litter has not built up at het bottom of your tank.

We will be happy to visit your property to design a new customized rainwater harvesting system or reconfigure your existing rainwater system for maximum water harvesting and storage.

1. Water tank
2. Base / foundation
3. Pre-filtration

Improves the quality of the harvested rainwater and protects the pump. Keep in mind that the more pre-filtration options installed, the cleaner the water will be that enters into your tank.

3a. Tank Filter Screen – fitted beneath lid
3b. Rainhead
3c. First Flush Rainwater Diverter

4. Tank Mozzie Screen

Fitted to the outside of your overflow, or the inside/outside of your tank inlet. This accessory allows water to pass through while blocking entry for mosquitoes and other insects.

Note: if you want to fit this accessory to the inside of your inlet, and you bought a JoJo tank prior to 2020, you will need to purchase our Full Thread 50/40mm Reducer.

5. Pipes – standard plumbing pipes in 110/80 or 75mm

Sizes and lengths will vary depending on installation and preference.

5a. From beneath Rainhead to the top of the First Flush Diverter T-junction (110, 80 or 75mm)

5b. For the First Flush Diverter Chamber (110mm is advised for this section)

5c. From side of First Flush Diverter T-junction to the elbow (110, 80 or 75mm)

5d. From elbow through lid into the tank (110, 80 or 75mm)

6. Elbow – according to pipe size
7. Pump and pump cover

When choosing a water pump, it is important to consider the water source, the application and the pressure required to ensure that the pump will meet your requirements.

To ensure all connections are visible, a pump cover was not included in this illustration, but we do recommend using a pump cover to protect your pump from the elements.

8. Pump to tank connector kit

An all-inclusive kit that permits seamless connection from the tank to both our 0.37kW and 0.75kW Booster Pumps.

*Whole-house Filter

Rainwater that is utilised for full domestic supply needs to be filtered to potable drinking water standards. Ensure that you choose a filtration system that meets these standards. It needs to be able to remove sediment, particulates and contaminants such as bacteria and other potentially harmful substances that could be present in the water. For more information on our whole-house filter visit our filtration section.

Installation guide

1. PRE-INSTALLATION
2. Choose a tank

Consider the rainfall in your area, your roof size and what the water will be used for. (The most common mistake in unsuccessful rainwater harvesting systems is a lack of storage capacity.)

A quick calculation to use: 1mm of rain on 1m2 of roof surface = 1 litre of water

Example: Roof area of 100m2 = 2500 litres in a rainfall event of 25mm

Alternatively, you can use the below size guidelines:

ROOF P/M2	TANK SIZE
50 – 100	750lt – 2400lt
100 – 300+	2700lt – 10 000lt

2. Tank placement

Should preferably be at a downpipe, or alternatively be repositioned by use of proper piping/guttering.

3. Base/foundation options

Tanks must be installed on a sound, level and smooth surface. Level paving will suffice, or a properly designed tank stand. Alternatively a concrete slab needs to be built, ideally with a concrete surface bed at least 85mm thick.

Recommended base sizes are:

It is recommended that the foundation should be at least 100mm wider than diameter of tank.