A water tank is one of the best buys for a home in a dry region. But which size? Too small and it runs dry between rains. Too big and you pay for space you never fill. Here is how to get it right.
What affects the size you need
- What you'll use it for. Garden only? Or backup for the whole house?
- How many people. More people means more water used each day.
- Your roof size. A bigger roof catches more rain to fill the tank.
- Rainfall gaps. The longer the dry spell, the more you need to store.
A rough guide
- 1,000L: Garden use and light backup. A good first tank.
- 2,500L: Solid backup for a small household plus the garden.
- 5,000L: Serious storage for a family home through longer dry spells.
Not sure? It is usually better to go one size up. You can always store extra water — you cannot use water you did not save.
Placing the tank
Put the tank on firm, level ground, close to a good downpipe. A full tank is heavy, so the base must be solid. Height helps too — a raised tank gives better flow to taps and hoses.
Pair it with a good system
A tank works best with clean gutters, a leaf filter and a first-flush device. Read our guide to rainwater harvesting for the full picture.
Kondebe supplies and fits tanks from 1,000L to 5,000L and up, across Knysna. See our water services or ask for a quote.