AusBonsai

Bougy Fan wrote:Hi All
I know this is getting a bit away from water tank for bonsai - but it is easy to do a toliet for tank water and mains. All cisterns these days have a inlet on each side. The one not used has a blanking plug in it. Remove this and fit a second inlet float valve (Fluidmaster fit easily) then fit an stop cock where it comes in at the bottom of the wall. Then you turn off the mains stop cock and open the tank water one. And if you run out of tank water or have a power failure just turn off the tank water and turn on the mains !


Tony

Hey Tony good idea but....
is this legal? From what I understand, you cannot have 2 inlets into a water vessel in case there is seepage back into the mains and thus pollute it?
I remember this was a big issue when I used to work at a Sewerage plant (yuk), and all water from the mains side had to be isolated from any system at the plant. The same applies to Recycled water systems here where in Sydney, there can be NO common system between the fresh mains and the recycled water. Dunno if the same applies to Tanks but would not surprise me. The only legal way I know to have a common feed from 2 supplies is via a commercial Flow blend valve system thing which is substantial cost?


Ken

kcpoole wrote:

Bougy Fan wrote:Hi All
I know this is getting a bit away from water tank for bonsai - but it is easy to do a toliet for tank water and mains. All cisterns these days have a inlet on each side. The one not used has a blanking plug in it. Remove this and fit a second inlet float valve (Fluidmaster fit easily) then fit an stop cock where it comes in at the bottom of the wall. Then you turn off the mains stop cock and open the tank water one. And if you run out of tank water or have a power failure just turn off the tank water and turn on the mains !


Tony

Hey Tony good idea but....
is this legal? From what I understand, you cannot have 2 inlets into a water vessel in case there is seepage back into the mains and thus pollute it?
I remember this was a big issue when I used to work at a Sewerage plant (yuk), and all water from the mains side had to be isolated from any system at the plant. The same applies to Recycled water systems here where in Sydney, there can be NO common system between the fresh mains and the recycled water. Dunno if the same applies to Tanks but would not surprise me. The only legal way I know to have a common feed from 2 supplies is via a commercial Flow blend valve system thing which is substantial cost?


Ken

Does the ruling make any remarks, as to the two inlets having isolation valves on them? I guess it doesn't matter though, even though they are both not on at the same time, you'd still run the risk of contamination possibly.

Hi KC
There is a rebate for just buying a tank if it is over 2000L being $150. Then a rebate of $400 for over 4000L thee is a further $1000 if you connect the tank to toilet and washing machine. You can add two tanks together to claim the higher rebate it states but I am unsure because it also states that you can only claim for one tank
See here
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/rebates/ccfrtw.htm
Hi Greth not sure about SA but in NSW if you are not connected to the mains you can only get a rebate for the tank purchase?

Hi Bougy and Mitchell. I have had the plumber over and he has suggested something similar. Just connect the tank to a outside house tap. Turn the mains water off and the whole house runs on Rain water. He said we have a non return valve on our mains meter so our tank water can't get into the mains water?
Not sure if this is council approved though and we will be getting a second opinion.

We have the Davey pump HS50-06T on order 290kpa This would be enough pressure to run the water through the house apparently or the same as turning three taps on

I have also ordered the 5000L tank I can't help but get bigger at the same price I am just greedy

Watch out for galvanised iron tanks and roof's and guttering. The zinc levels from them can be toxic.

Paul

Sweet Brett
Sound good setup. the Non return Valve should satisfy any council / Water Inspector dudes I think

Ken