24 Jan 2018 / Latest News

Our SWT Onsite Detention Tanks

Australia is rather dry in certain regions for an island nation. We have one rainy season a year, and even though we’re surrounded by the ocean, a lot of our local water sources are salty lakes. Our municipal water systems often have a hard time keeping up, so during the three months of torrential downpours, and it’s a good idea to harvest as much rainwater as possible.

The downside of having just one season of annual heavy precipitation is the volumes can become unmanageable. Big buildings like apartments and office blocks have massive roofs with immense surface areas. As the rain lands on those roofs, it can accumulate and seep into the roofing structure, causing crumbling, leaks, and other forms of damage.

Even if the roof is slanted and has a properly aligned gutter system, the amount of water may be too much for the roof drainage to contain. This is where Onsite Detention tanks (OSDs) come in. They are specially made storm-water systems that can collect and hold large amounts of water. This water is then gradually released into the municipal system.

By controlling the pace of water flow, you can prevent property damage. The measured flow avoids overwhelming the local drainage system. Usually, OSDs are coupled with Detention Control Pits (DCPs). These underground water tanks increase the capacity of the OSD by offering more storage space.

Of course, the storm-water doesn’t necessarily have to be discarded. It can be channelled into an under deck rainwater tank or even a regular water tank on the surface. These tanks prevent wastage while still protecting the local water disposal mechanisms. In many regions, you can’t put up a large building without council-approved OSDs and DCPs.

Detention tanks are best built onsite because they are too bulky and cumbersome to transport to your construction venue. A professional hydraulic engineer will inspect your site and draft a design for the tank. This draft will generally be interpreted and executed by a local plumber. Here at Sydney Water Tanks, we have a specialised team to handle it.

Our plumbers will inspect your technical drawings and implement them onsite. We can install your entire storm-water system, including inlets, outlets, orifice plates, rungs, pits, sumps, screes, and overflows. If something goes wrong with the system, later on, we are available for repair and maintenance at friendly prices.

If you already have some kind of drainage system in place, we can still help. We can evaluate your site based on location and water conditions. We can then adapt your current system to develop a more effective storm-water mechanism. Before we arrive, look at the OSD drawings and excavate your selected site as shown in the design plans.

You OSD drainage system can be constructed using in ground water tanks, or you can choose to have tanks that are only partly underground. Our plumbers will gladly guide you on the best fit for your circumstances, and your budget.

For assistance in sourcing, maintaining, and securing your choice of a water tank, call Sydney Water Tanks today on 1800 041 111.

 

Read Also:

Is an Inground Water Tank Safe?

How Our Stormwater Pits Work

Share: