excess rain water?

[debonatrek]

hello
I have spent sometime looking for the answer on the forum but can't find the answer.
I am about to install a 10,000L underground water tank and was wondering when it fills up and overflows should I put it back into the stormwater system? feed it into a gravel pit or let it just flow out? I have sandy soil. you would think that the council would have some requirements but they dont.

any suggestions would be appreciated.

thanks
deb

[Pakanohida]

hello
I have spent sometime looking for the answer on the forum but can't find the answer.
I am about to install a 10,000L underground water tank and was wondering when it fills up and overflows should I put it back into the stormwater system? feed it into a gravel pit or let it just flow out? I have sandy soil. you would think that the council would have some requirements but they dont.

any suggestions would be appreciated.

thanks
deb

Hmmmmm, can't find the answer? This recent thread I am quoting because well, Markos is dead on & I have the same questions and suggestions.

G'day dianne

Quote Originally Posted by dianne View Post
I have been looking at properties for a few years now to set ourselves up a small hobby farm and have found one I like but it is holding too much water around the house yard. we have had about 100mls of rain in the last week and a half and we could see puddle spots around the house. the house itself is on 3foot high metal posts which are rusting because water has sat under the house. DH also said the post were made using the wrong thing which didnt help, but he could restump it if we really wonted the place, but I am trying to find ways to keep the water out from under the house once we restumped it. the land around here is a small topsoil with heavy clay under. please any ideas ... have thought of diging drainage pipes, and if I can improve the soil it should inprove the amount of water that sokes in but am at a loss to what else we could do or how to do it. HELP PLEASE!

and yes, some may see this same post on as couple different sites as I am trying to ask as many as I can.
A few points to consider:

What is the source of the water? Surface or sub-surface? Each will requires a different response. If the former, then diversion may solve the problem. If the latter, then drainage might be the answer. Either way, you will need to determine the source of the water. It could be that the site has always been 'wet' and that the house was sited incorrectly in the first instance. If this is the case, and if you do purchase the property with the intent of re-stumping the house, then perhaps a more suitable site on the property can be found? This could also serve the purpose of securing better orientation with regards to solar access, etc.

What is the condition of the soil/water? Many properties in the Rockhampton region are known to incorporate acid-sulphate soils. If this is the case with your prospective property, then you may wish to reconsider.

What is the history of the water inundation? Is this a 'one off event' due to unprecedented rain events? Are there any other, contributory issues? Perhaps a leaking water main, or a new fissure opening up in a sub-surface rock aquifer? Critically, is it going to be of a persistent concern?

Ordinarily, the presence of surface water is seen as a boon to any permaculture project ('water is life'). However, if the (continued?) presence of this water means that the underpinnings of your dwelling (and any other development/use/'improvement' to the site) is at risk, then you may wish to reconsider.

As such, I suggest you employ the services of an expert (in this case, a geo-technician/hydrologist), and preferably one that has an understanding of permaculture principles. A situation like this calls for an integrated assessment and response.

Cheerio, Markos

This was from a very similar named post.

I need way more information in order to help best I can, and I am sure many others here do too.

For me, despite being in a cool humid rainforest I have no such thing as excess water. I want to capture it, keep it, reuse it anyway I can. It's the most precious resource on the property no matter where you are.

[gardenlen]

g'day deb,

only observations are putting a tank underground is probably not cheap, so maybe consider nothing less that 25k/l or thereabouts. you don't say what sort of construction for the tank poly, cement ?

as for overflow most councils don't get involved so long as the water does not flow to or over neighbours properties, at a pinch if a neighbour dobbed they may make you reconnect to the storm water system.

len

[debonatrek]

thanks len that pretty much answers my question, just don't let it on the neightbours property ( though i am secretly hoping that they will install a tank, as i'm in a duplex and they have a bigger yard)
my property is in the suburbs on 400m2, its lucky? I guess that i have to excavate a retaining wall as the previous owner built it and did not waterproof it. while the fence is down between my neighbours and my house and there is an excavator there I thought i would make the whole that much bigger to fit a tank in. I would love to fit a 25k/l tank in but i am not sure that it would fit, the tank man is coming to investigate for me. the tank is cement as that is the cheapest option for a 10000L.

your right Pakanohida there is no such thing as excess water, so maybe i should have said water I can not retain especially as we have very dry summers. and your above thread is about a hobby farm and wasn't sure if the answer for water you can't retain would suit a small suburban block. i'll try and be more clear in my questions next time