This guide will explore the topic of what a water tank is and how you can use one to save money on your water bills.
Throughout 2022, the UK headlines were dominated by news of inflationary pressure, the rising cost of living and increasing energy bills and some forecasters are predicting more of the same for 2023. As a result, many of us examined our heating and electricity usage, but there’s another utility that we ought to examine in our attempts to live more frugally – water.
Like the other utilities, water prices were also expected to rise in 2022, albeit by around 1.7%, below the rate of inflation. In the UK, our current water rates are fixed until 2025. On average, Brits consume around 348 litres of water per capita, so reducing the amount of water we utilise at home can be a valuable way to save some cash. One way to cut our water consumption is through the use of water tanks.
What Is a Water Storage Tank?
Water storage tanks essentially collect and store water for later use. The type of water tank you’ll need for your home depends on how you plan to use the water you save. Some water tanks can provide you with water that’s suitable for human consumption, while others will only store non-drinking water that’s suitable for cleaning, flushing your toilet or watering your plants.
There is a vast variety of water tanks. Perhaps the type we’re most familiar with in a domestic setting is the water butt, which collects rainwater in your garden that’s used to hydrate your plants. However, there are many more types of water storage tanks, which can range in function, size, and price.
Above Ground Water Tanks
Above ground water tanks sit on a flat, stable surface above the ground and are often made from UV-stabilised polyethylene, which means they have a long life expectancy and will not suffer from corrosion (unlike steel water tanks). Since above ground water tanks don’t need to be sunk into the ground, they’re far easier to install and maintain than their below ground counterparts.
While they’re relatively cheap to install, above ground water tanks are more susceptible to damage from the elements. They can also take up a lot of valuable space on your property. Even so, above ground water tanks are extremely versatile and are more portable. They can range from 1 l to 25,000l and include models that can safely store potable or drinking water.
Below Ground Water Tanks
A below ground water tank stores water under the ground, which protects it from extremes of temperature. They’re typically used for rainwater harvesting and can range in size from 900l to 10,000l.
Like above ground water tanks, the below ground variations come in a range of models which can store potable or non-potable water. However, below ground water tanks can be more difficult to install and maintain as you can’t easily see problems when they occur.
Other Types of Water Tanks
In addition to above or below ground water tanks, there are also more compact and mobile types of tanks, like baffled water tanks or Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs), which allow you to easily transport stored water to places where you need it.
Why Should You Consider Installing a Water Tank?
Now that we have an idea of what a water tank is and how it can be used, why would we want to install one at home or in our businesses? The bottom line is that collecting and storing water in a water tank means we can reduce how much water we draw from the public water supply, and therefore, decrease our water bills.
But before you go rushing out to invest in a new water tank, there are several factors that you’ll need to consider. First and foremost, is how you plan to use the stored water. If you’re planning to drink or cook with your stored water, then you’ll need to invest in a water tank that can store potable water. These water tanks must comply with strict health and safety guidelines, known as the Water Regulations Approval Scheme (WRAS), to ensure the water is fit for drinking.
Another key decision factor is where you intend to use your water tank. Above ground water tanks take up considerably more space than a below ground water tank. How much space you have will ultimately impact the size of the water tank you purchase as well as the type. However, it’s not just size that you’ll need to consider.
If you live in a dry part of the world that receives little rainfall, then a water tank won’t be as beneficial to you as a location that receives higher rainfall. While that particular point may seem obvious, it’s also worth considering exactly where you plan to install your water tank. A water tank that’s situated beneath trees and buildings won’t collect as much water as if it were installed in an open area. Both points may impact the size of the water tank that you’ll ultimately decide to buy.
How Much Money Does a Water Tank Save?
Like many things, you’ll incur an initial cost when you decide to install a water tank. These can include the cost of the tank itself as well as the cost to install it and any harvesting system you’ve settled upon. However, in the long term, you should start to see savings on your monthly water bills.
Many of us use more water than we realise. Recent research shows that around 46% of UK adults believe that their household uses less than 20l of water per day. However, in reality, the average UK household uses 348l of water per day – almost 17.5x more than many people assume. So, reducing our water consumption is the first step towards saving money on our water bills, but how much you save depends on where you live and how you normally consume water.
Let’s take toilet flushing as a simple example. UK independent experts, Waterwise, estimate that around 30% of all water used by the average UK household is used to flush a toilet. As of 2023, the average UK household water bill comes to around £419 per year. If you managed to draw water from your water tank to flush your home’s toilets at least 50% of the time, then you’d save around £62.85 a year.
The more water you’re able to collect, store and use in lieu of water from the public supply, the larger your savings.
How Long Does A Water Tank Last?
Water storage tanks are extremely durable, but how long they’ll ultimately last depends on a few factors:
● What your water tank is made from.
● What you’re using it for; and
● How well you maintain it.
The average lifespan of a water tank is around 20-25 years. Plastic tanks are made from non-biodegradable plastic and a high-quality water tank shouldn’t crack or deteriorate as a result of UV light.
You can expect a plastic water tank that’s been maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions to last around 10-20 years. Metal water tanks are typically made from steel and have a life expectancy of around 30 years. With proper care, some water tanks can last much longer than the expected lifespan.
Is It Worth Buying a Water Storage Tank?
After the initial purchase and installation costs, the only other costs you’ll incur are electricity costs if your system uses a water pump and maintenance costs. The long-term savings on your water bills should outweigh the relatively low maintenance and operating costs, so generally, it can make good financial sense to buy a water storage tank.
Looking beyond your finances, however, reducing water consumption is important to protect the world for future generations. The effects of climate change mean that our water supply is becoming more unpredictable and reducing our water usage can mean that less water is diverted from rivers, streams, and bays. Using a water storage tank can be a relatively inexpensive and unobtrusive way of doing our bit for the environment.
