A Health Guide to Your Rain Water Tank

Author: IWG Writer

In some localities this might be the only way to save water during hard times. But here are a few common myths and precautions you can follow to make sure you utilize your water tank to the best advantage.
1. Is the water safe to drink? Generally yes as long the rainwater collected in your tanks is clear, with no taste or smell and is derived from a well-maintained catchments system, and then you don’t have any thing to worry about. But you have to beware of a few problems like, if you live in a heavily populated area with a lot of traffic and pollution then getting rainwater collected for drinking purposes is not a very good idea for your health. You can collect rainwater in rain water tank but it is preferable to use it for gardening and daily household activities rather than human consumption.


2. How do I protect the water quality of the water tank I have installed? Most of the time proper maintenance of the water storage facility is essential to get good quality water harvested in your water tank. If you have not used the water tank for a few days, its a good idea to run the first few minutes well to get rid of the bottom sediment or pipe sediment which might have accumulated in the system. Water which has been standing for a long time can also dissolve metals from the pipe like copper and time .So it’s not really healthy to drink it but you can use it for washing and household needs.


3. Which type of water tank is good? There are a whole range of different varieties of water tanks available for your needs in the market and you can choose any variety but there are few things you have to be careful of like,


a. Some PVC pipes contain lead which is not really good for human consumptions so be careful while selecting pipe and storage systems.


b. Some householders have complained that water harvested off a metal roof reacts with water in a metal tank to create a metallic taste to the stored water.


c. Some tanks need to be flushed or washed with water before use.


d. Use a tightly fitting lid to prevent the growth of algae which needs sunlight to grow.


e. Every access point should be sealed unless in use.


f. Every water tank should be tightly sealed with a good access cover with will not allow access animals and children but can easily opened for cleaning and drainage. Make sure that its reasonable water tight for sealing against storm water drainage too.


g. Avoid using your roof as a water collection system if you have lead based paint, or tar covering or even acrylic based paints.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/bath-showers-articles/a-health-guide-to-your-rain-water-tank-421866.html

About the Author:

"A Health Guide to Your

Rain water Tank" article is written by IWG Writer.

The Essentials of Basement Waterproofing

Author: Paul Vant

There's a simple reason why basement waterproofing is becoming more and more interesting to the average homeowner in this country, and that is the rapid rate at which older homes are aging. Even if a home was originally built using the best materials and with the finest workmanship, the ravages of time and water damage can take their toll. Due to the insidious, creeping nature of water damage when it comes to residential properties, a basement problem can sneak up on a person and cause flooding or other leakage problems before anyone even realizes the potential.



Luckily, thanks to recent advances in the technology used to waterproof basements, there are plenty of affordable and intelligent ways to protect your family, your property and your investment.



Have no doubt about it: a full basement waterproofing job can end up costing you a pretty penny. But that doesn't necessarily mean that you need to spend a bunch of cash fixing up your basement well enough that it will last against the elements for many years to come. It's very important to remember that while it's best to install the best footer drains and waterproofing materials available, it isn't always absolutely essential to do so. If you are short of funds, don't let any company or contractor convince you that disaster will befall your home if you don't spend thousands on the problem. More often than not, a simpler, more cost effective method can keep your basement dry for a number of years.



The first rule to remember when researching basement waterproofing on your home is to make sure you never go to companies or contractors who charge for estimates. An estimate should almost always be done free of charge as a courtesy to a potential customer, and if someone wants to charge you even a small fee for looking at your basement, it's better to pass them over. Charging a customer for an estimate is usually an early indicator that a contractor's work might be less than acceptable.



Once the extent of damage and what it will take to fix things are established, make sure you get a thorough explanation from the company you choose regarding the minimum amount of necessary work. If you have the budget for a complete basement waterproofing job, then it's a great idea to go through with it. After all, it will protect your investment from longer-term damage. But don't be squeamish about working with a smaller budget and only fixing what needs to be fixed immediately.



Interacting with your contractor and figuring out what is necessary and what isn't is vital for those of us who are working with a fixed budget, and it's also well within your rights as a consumer. Keeping this in mind when you call a local basement waterproofing company will protect your investment and your wallet, too.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/the-essentials-of-basement-waterproofing-587904.html

About the Author:

Lorain County Sewer and Drain makes Ohio basement waterproofing easy and affordable. Visit our site today to learn more about basement waterproofing and Ohio drain cleaning.