With above average risk of grass fires predicted by the Country Fire Authority (CFA) this summer, the Rainwater Harvesting Association of Australia (RHAA) has provided some advice on rainwater tank preparation this summer.
For more tips on which tanks suits fire, cyclone and flood prone areas see Reliable Rainwater Supply: Top Tips for all Conditions in ReNew 118
A rainwater tank can play a vital role in defending your home if there is a fire, providing a quickly accessible water source for the authorities as well as essential storage if the power goes out and fresh water if there is a service disruption.
Colin Nash, Chairman of the RHAA, believes that it is vital to have your rainwater tank prepared and ready to not only harvest the summer rains, but to help defend your home if the situation arises.
“Preparing your rainwater tank in a manner which can assist the authorities and provide water when all else fails should be on top of the to-do list, before summer really sets in”, says Mr Nash.
Tips for homeowners in bushfire zones:
- Ensure there is always water in your tank, even if it involves purchasing water. Victoria’s CFA recommends having an additional water supply of at least 10,000 litres available that is independent of the reticulated water supply and mains power supply.
- Attach fire brigade fittings (which you can purchase from your local tank dealer) to your tank and ensure fire brigade access to your property and rainwater tank – the average fire brigade tanker requires 4m x 4m clearance and a large turning circle.
- Make sure you have either a petrol or diesel pump for pumping water during an emergency. E.g. electricity supply fails or service disruption.
- Install first flush water diverters to avoid contamination of rainwater with ash and soot.
- To protect your home from ember attack, fire plugs should be installed on downpipes to allow for pumping of rainwater into gutters.
Please visit www.rainwaterharvesting.asn.au for more information.
This entry was posted on Monday, December 19th, 2011 at 6:14 pm