Thread: Advise on plumbing downpipes to drinking water tank

Originally Posted by HangOver

New house and need to plumb my house down pipes to a water tank for drinking water. The down pipes appear to be 100mm PVC, (I havent measured) and already fitted to the house.

Advise needed how to go about it. I want the down pipes connected to underground pipes then to the water tank, about 8m from the house.

If the downpipes are 100mm, should the underground pipe be 100mm also or bigger?
Is standard PVC pipe OK or do I need something heavier.
Some of the underground pipe will need to be driven over, I was thinking about 500mm deep, will this be OK?
Best first rain diverter option?
I am guessing any joints need gluing together, best stuff to use?

Best place to buy this stuff around perth?

Any other hints or tips welcome

Hi there.
I will be going through this task just south of Bunbury in a few months when our new house is finished.

I have previously worked out that two 90mm dia PVC pipes would be sufficient to drain about a 400sq.m roof, it will be a charged system like yours. I was told to try to get at least 1m fall from the gutters to top of tank so you have sufficient head to "push" the water through the charged system.

It is a must to set up a drain/flush point at a low point in the pipe(s). It is common down here to leave the drain cap off during the summer months and wait for the first 30mm or so of winter rain before capping it, to flush off the roof.

Have fun.
Cheers,
Chris