This page will help you if you'd like to know a little more about:
1.

Styles of rainwater tanks available

Advantages of different shapes of tanks
2.

Features of different water tank materials

What are rainwater tanks made of?
If you already have a good idea of what kind of water tank you need, see the list of our shapes and sizes of steel and poly tanks If you need any help along the way, just ask us for advice.

Styles of rainwater tanks available

Style   Advantages   Disadvantages
Round2 x 4500L round tanks from West Coast Poly
  • Most cost effective - around 1/2 the price of a slimline for the same volume
  • Can fit into unused corners
  • Full range of diameters from 90cm to 15 metres
  • Will always get 'dead' areas behind
  • Often insufficient room to get a large round tank round to the back of an established house
Slimline or 'Under Eaves'2000L Thin Tank
  • Best fit for most urban homes and the most popular in larger sizes
  • Different widths available for narrow spaces
  • Can be very slim - down to 260mm!
  • Can go flat against a fence or wall
  • Custom-made steel slimline water tanks up to 7000L capacity with the width and length you want
  • Mid-range price
  • Poly slimlines only up to 3000L in WA – for more capacity join two together
  • Very slim tanks are a premium product
BladderEcoSac 7000L bladder tank
  • Good for low spaces such as under decks
  • Larger sizes competitive with slimline water tanks
  • Whole tank base must be level
  • Can’t go over 600mm high, so greater volume means very long, or wide
  • 3000L bladder would be 5500 x 1100mm
  • Timber decks often don't have wide enough spans
UndergroundTwo 5000L Graf Plation or LiLo tanks
  • Gets the tank out of sight
  • Good water quality from being cool & dark
  • Low profile tanks easy to install in sandy soils
  • Water filtration is straightforward
  • Does cost significantly more for both tank and installation - around twice the price of an above-ground slimline water tank 
  • Ideally installed when building new home

What are rainwater tanks made of?

Material    Key Features    Material    Colours Warranty
Plastic "Poly"
  • Range of shapes
  • Biggest range of sizes
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to install
  • Can sit on sand or paving
  • Underground options
  • Food-grade polyethylene approved to AS 4020 for drinking water.
  • One piece design with no seams
  • UV resistant
  • Up to 27 colours available for same cost depending on manufacturer
Typically 10 years
Steel "Aquaplate"
  • Custom made to required size
  • Traditional look
  • Lightweight
  • Must sit on concrete pad
  • Corrugated steel with a plastic coating laminated to the inside to prevent corrosion
  • Also made to AS 4020
  • Plain zincalume
  • Pale green or cream Colorbond
  • Any spray painted colour
20 years
Plastic bladder
  • Good for long, wide & low spaces out of direct sunlight– e.g. under a deck
  • TPU or PVC sheet, welded
  • Also made to AS 4020
  10 years
Large steel
  • Curved steel sections bolt together into a ring
  • Plastic liner inside retains the water
  • Easy to get onto site
  • Quick to construct
  • Thick PVC sheet, welded
  • Also made to AS 4020
  • Zincalume
  • 5 Colorbond
20 years Liner 10 yrs
Concrete
  • Precast, or poured in-situ
  • Fireproof
  • Often cracks or leaks slightly over time
  • Best for large underground tanks
  • Concrete or ferro-cement
  10 years
All our rainwater tanks, whether made of polyethylene (‘poly’ or LDPE), Aquaplate™ steel or plain rolled steel with a separate, flexible plastic liner (made of LLDPE) are locally manufactured to Australian quality standards. Plastic tanks also meet AS2070 for food contact.
  • Australian Standard AS/NZS 9001 (ISO9001) certification is based on the manufacturer operating a quality management system covering all areas of operation including design, manufacture and delivery
  • Australian Standard AS/NZS 4020 specifies requirements for products that are in contact with drinking water and defines test methods for evaluating their effect on the quality of the water. The Standard requires that products do not affect the taste or appearance of water; do not support the growth of micro-organisms; and do not release cytotoxic or mutagenic compounds or metals
  • Australian Standard AS/NZS 2070 is secondary to AS/NSZ 4020 since it doesn’t apply to the tank itself, but only to the quality procedures to be followed for the manufacture of the plastic resins, granules and powders used to make the tank and which will therefore be in contact with the water.
Rainwater tends to be slightly acidic, and you may notice this whatever material your tank is made from. New rainwater tanks can impart specific tastes and odours that may be noticeable but are not harmful. For example, PVC liners can impart a plastic taste when first used, due to the plasticiser, but this fades away after a short time. Previous pageNext Page Back to menu

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