Here is a quick analysis of the water catchment potential for the structures around my yard.
| Structure | Roofing Material | No. of downpipes | Approx Area in square metres |
| House | terra-cotta roof tiles | 3 | 116 |
| Carport | steel sheeting | 1 | 29 |
| Garage | concrete roof tiles | 2 | 33 |
| Awning 1 | fibreglass sheeting | Shares 1 garage gutter/downpipe | 22 |
| Awning 2 | Colorbond | 1 | 25 |
| Other | various | 10 |
In theory, if I could capture all of the rainwater that fell on all the roof surfaces (about 235 sq metres) and store it, I could supply nearly double my average yearly consumption in an average rainfall year.
Using the water from the various structures:
The fibreglass sheeting is a definite no for obtaining drinking water from. The terra-cotta roof tiles are a possibility, but the best option was the colorbond sheeting material. The downpipe from this roof was in a suitable location for a tank. Water collection area for this tank is approx 25 square metres.
The other tank was placed in a position to connect to the downpipe which collects water from half of the garage roof & Awning 1, and also one of the house downpipes. Collection area for this tank is approximately 77 square metres - Assuming 1/3 of the house + Awning 1 + ½ of the garage)
Last Updated: 06/09/02