Rainwater harvesting is definitely one of the greatest functions of having water tanks in the Philippines. With a tropical country that frequently experiences rains, especially during the wet season, having a rainwater storage tank has provided a great solution to the depleting water reservoirs we have in the country.
But as we all know, the weather and the rain can be quite erratic in the Philippines. And no matter how much you pray for rain so you can store enough water for your household, there’s really just no controlling the weather. However, this problem doesn’t come without a solution. The best way to steer clear of the dreadful water shortage is to, of course, have enough volumes of water stored.
This means choosing the ideal water tank size for your household. In choosing so, here are four things to consider.
WATER USAGE NEEDS
Being aware of how much water you use and need will play a big role in knowing the amount of rainwater you’ll need to store for future use. If you’re currently using a water service provider, your monthly bill can be a good reference as to how many cubic feet of water you use on a month’s average. From there, decide on the size of the tank you’re getting.
AVERAGE RAINFALL IN YOUR LOCALE
Even if you get the biggest tank there is, it would just be a waste if it can’t be filled with water. So, after considering the size of your tank, match it with the amount of average rainfall your locale gets. This information is easily available on the internet, and you can even use the past year’s rainfall reports through the country’s weather forecasting agency–PAGASA. Since our country has wet and dry seasons, it would be best to take note of the maximum water you can store during the wet season so you’ll have enough during the dry one.
ROOF SIZE AND AREA
The first surface that accumulates rainwater for your storage is your roof, so knowing its total size and area is important. Generally, a millimeter of rain over a square meter of roof is equivalent to 1 liter of water. You may calculate your roof area by simply referring to your house or building plans, or roughly measuring it using a meter stick. Of course, the larger the roof, the bigger amount of rainwater you can harvest.
To have a better calculation of the maximum amount of water harvest, you may use this formula:
Roof area (sqm) x Annual average rainfall (in mm) = Maximum rain harvesting capacity (in liters)
SPACE AND LOCATION RESTRICTIONS
The first three considerations are mostly enough to help you decide on choosing the ideal water tank size for you. But just to be safe, we’ve added one more consideration to the list: the space you have available for installing a tank (or multiple tanks).
Depending on the available space and the restrictions imposed by your neighborhood, you may choose between overhead tanks and underground ones, and whether to place it close or farther away from your building. This information helps you choose not only the best size tank, but also the shape and type that is most suited for you.With the considerations and calculation formula we’ve provided, choosing the most suitable size of rainwater tank becomes a lot easier. All that’s left to do now, is to scout for reputable brands that offer not only products, but also their expertise in this matter. To give you a headstart for your search, check out the country’s most trusted names in producing water tanks in the Philippines through this website.
