Gardening Australia – September 2019

WATER

52 SEPTEMBER 2019 GARDENING AUSTRALIA

SOURCE PLUSES MINUSES

Bore water Can provide a good

supply of water if

aquifers are present

on the property

May require a licence; it is expensive to sink a bore (the cost relates to the

depth that has to be drilled); requires special pumps and regular maintenance;

requires a power source; water may have high levels of salts or iron; water

may need to be run into a tank or dam before being used on the garden

Dam water Freely available; not

subject to restriction

if already installed

Requires infrastructure and permits to put in a new dam; needs a pump and

a power source to access water; requires filtration to remove dirt; can develop

algal problems; requires rain and run-off to fill; needs maintenance

Re-usable

greywater

(showers, baths,

basins, washing

machine rinses)

Re-use of wastewater;

freely available;

not subject to

water restrictions

Untreated greywater must be used within 24 hours of collection; longer storage

requires treatment; needs a pump (but don’t rely on your washing machine

pump); untreated water can’t be used on leafy food crops; health department

guidelines must be observed; the water can contain salts from detergents;

it can cause issues with soils

River or

creek water

Can provide a good

supply of water if there

is a natural watercourse

on the property

May require a licence and be subject to limits; requires special pumps and

regular maintenance; requires a power source and infrastructure at the water

source; water may need to be run into a tank or dam before being used on

the garden; water flow may diminish during drought periods

Tank water Free water; not subject

to restrictions

Reliant on rainfall; water may contain impurities from the roof (but not a

problem if used only on the garden); requires a level space and infrastructure,

including pipes, tank, pump and filters; inlets must be covered to protect

against mosquitoes; gutters must be kept clean to maximise inflow during rain

Town water

(also known as

mains water or

scheme water)

On tap; clean; good

pressure; operates

without a pump

Costs money (water rates and additional usage); subject to restrictions for use

on gardens during times of drought; contains chlorine (care must be taken

when filling fish ponds or watering sensitive plants)

The next decision is the size of the
water tank (or tanks). This is based on
the space available for a tank, access for
installation, the cost, and the amount of
water you want to store. Generally, the
larger the tank, the more useful it is, but
where space is tight, it may be necessary
to install several tanks to hold the volume
of water you need for the garden.
If you receive regular rainfall, you may
be able to have a smaller tank, but where

rain is erratic, with heavy falls followed

by long, dry periods, opt for a big tank.

Finally, decide whether you want a

plastic, metal or concrete tank. Each varies

in cost, longevity and ease of installation.

Plastic, or poly, tanks offer home

gardeners the greatest variety of shapes,

sizes and colours, and are UV-stabilised

to protect them from degrading in the sun.

Metal tanks used to be a cheaper option

but are now available in a range of colours,

sizes, shapes and materials, and prices

vary accordingly. It’s important to match

the type of metal the tank is made from

with the existing metal of your roofing,

gutters and downpipes, to avoid corrosion.

Concrete tanks are best installed during

building or when adding an extension,

when they can be partially or completely

set into the ground. While concrete tanks

are the most expensive option,theyare

also the longest-lasting choice. GA

Water tanks are not theonlysourceofwaterforgardens.

An obvious source is greywater–there-usablewastewater

from showers, baths, basins and washing machine rinses.

Water is also available from bores and dams, or by pumping

itfromariverorcreek,however,these sources are highly

controlled,mayrequirepermitstoaccess the water, and

could be subject to restrictions. Below are the benefits and

conditions of using various water sources for the garden.

OTHER WATER SOURCES for gardens