water is precious
A new way forward in water security for rural, regional and remote Australia.
What is a water depot?
A water depot is a site comprising of multiple rainwater tanks. Each tank is housed beneath a roof with an extra-deep gutter system to collect and store rainwater. Each tank is connected to main feed-lines which can either flow through a filtration system to a fast flow standpipe; and/or to a concrete reservoir for use as a static water supply for firefighting.
Water depots are completely customisable dependent on individual or community need – eg, drinking and dialysis water security, water for agribusiness, static water supply for firefighting.
Un-viable land can be repurposed to host a water depot. Water depots on sloping terrain can be set up to utilise gravity-fed systems. Water depots set up on flat ground will require pumping, however adding energy generating solar and wind technologies could mitigate energy costs.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
What are the immediate benefits?
No major excavation required to set up. Completion within weeks not months or years. Creates local construction jobs in first phase. Can be disassembled and repurposed elsewhere. Most importantly, it is ready to collect rainwater immediately.
About the water depot
Just like dams, rivers and open water courses, water depots are dependent on rainfall to be a viable water supply. However, unlike water in dams, rivers and watercourses, the water stored at depots won’t have issues with evaporation, seepage or develop algal blooms.
Using an individual unit comprising of one 22 500L tank beneath a 5m x 5m (25 sqm) roof as an example: If 1mm rain per 1 square metre of catchment equals 1L captured, each unit can harvest up to 25L per mm. 900mm of rainfall is required for the tank to fill.
A water depot hosting 45 units has a water capture and holding capacity of more than one megalitre (1 million litres) and can be set up in an area of less than 5 acres.
THE WATER DEPOT
Use this idea to benefit your community.
If you or your community can adapt this idea to improve water security in your area, do it!
· Improved drinking water security for rural Australia and support sustainable Agribusiness
· Create a potential static water supply for rural fire fighting
· Empower rural and regional Australia to be more ‘drought resistant’
· Improve access to clean water for drinking and medical purposes in remote communities
· Immediately achievable for individual landowners and communities
· Reduced environmental impact – minimal need for land clearing or excavation
· Reduce the need to harvest water directly from waterways
· Has the potential to return water to the environment
· Has potential to also generate renewable energy through wind/solar enhancements – can be as low or high tech as desired
· Potential benefits for regional economies - could generate immediate employment in the water depot construction phase, plus also supports industries in the supply chain
· Construction completed within weeks, not months or years.
· Relocatable – can be pulled down and set up elsewhere.