Rainwater Tank Volume Equation:
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The rainwater tank volume equation calculates the potential rainwater harvest from a catchment area. It's widely used in Australia for designing rainwater collection systems and determining appropriate tank sizes for residential and commercial properties.
The calculator uses the rainwater tank volume equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation multiplies the catchment area by rainfall amount and applies a 90% efficiency factor to account for evaporation, spillage, and first flush diversion.
Details: Accurate water tank volume calculation is essential for sustainable water management, ensuring adequate water supply during dry periods, reducing mains water usage, and optimizing rainwater harvesting system design.
Tips: Enter catchment area in square meters and rainfall in millimeters. Use local average rainfall data for accurate results. All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: Why is there a 0.9 efficiency factor?
A: The 0.9 factor accounts for approximately 10% losses due to evaporation, spillage during heavy rain, and first flush diversion that removes contaminants from the initial rainfall.
Q2: What is a typical catchment area for residential properties?
A: Residential roof areas in Australia typically range from 100-300 m², depending on the house size and design.
Q3: How do I find local rainfall data?
A: The Bureau of Meteorology provides detailed rainfall data for different regions across Australia, including average monthly and annual rainfall figures.
Q4: Can this calculator be used for commercial properties?
A: Yes, the same equation applies to commercial properties, though larger systems may require additional considerations for storage and distribution.
Q5: What are common tank sizes available in Australia?
A: Common residential tank sizes range from 2,000 to 10,000 liters, while commercial systems can range from 10,000 to 100,000+ liters.