Reality Check: Clean water at your coastal or country property 

Whether you use a concrete or plastic (polyethylene) tank may be governed by the house site.

A clean, consistent supply of water can be taken for granted if you live in cities or towns, but it 's a major consideration if you buy a coastal or rural property that doesn't have a piped supply.

You then have to look at the cost and logistics of installing a tank, or digging a bore and installing a pump to take the water from the bore to a tank.

Whether you use a concrete or plastic (polyethylene) tank may be governed by
the house site. Plastic tanks are easier to transport, lighter to manoeuvre and come in a variety of colours. Concrete tanks keep water cooler with less chance of algae growth.

Graham Moor, a registered plumber who also operates a roof business, is responsible for the water supply at his family 's beachside holiday home north of Kerikeri.
 
His 5000 gallon concrete tank has given good service for more than 20 years but, as Graham explains, maintenance is important. ''Ensure the pump pressures are set correctly, that the pump is well housed, especially important in a marine environment, and check the electrics.

Make sure it's safe. If in doubt, get an electrician to check it out, ''says Graham.

He is passionate about keeping the roof collection area clean and recommends keeping
the area near the roof free of vegetation. ''Have a diversion in place so when you clean
the roof the dirty muck is not going into your tank.''

His lifestyle farm is also on tank water. Water collected from the roofs of the stable and barn
supplies troughs and is a backup for the second 5000 gallon tank that collects water from the
house and is used for household use.

Albert Teale and his family have a coastal holiday home, also near Kerikeri, which they rent
out at other times.

Water from a bore on the property is pumped into a 5000 gallon concrete tank. A second
pump pushes water from the tank into the house.

Albert says, ''At one stage or another they have all failed.'' When the pumps break down they need to be primed and re-pressurised to get them running correctly. ''But it 's just something you learn to live with and knowing the foibles of your equipment, pumps and tank, is learnt over time.''

He says when the pumps have failed they used gravity feed to get water. ''It 's best to keep the tank adequately full at all times to be able to gravity feed if necessary.''

The water collected from the roof is stored in a holding tank and is used by the Teale household and next door neighbours to wash down boats and dive gear, and shower kids after swimming.

Their pump system is not automatic. They pump water from the bore when it is required
and use the pump at convenient times, as it can be noisy.

''People nearby have had to buy water during the dry summers but our bore has never dried
up, ''says Albert.

Truckloads of water cost $150-$500, depending where you live.

Concrete tanks
Don Jacobs, of Jacobs Water Tanks, says concrete tanks have been in use for 60 years and
have many advantages.

*Concrete is strong and gives good insulation.
*The water is at least 9 degrees cooler and water is kept dark, minimising algae growth.

*Concrete tanks can be repaired.

*Concrete tanks can be insured (plastic tanks cannot).

Plastic or polyethylene tanks
Mike Baker of Aqua Tanks says his tanks are made using a rotational moulding system, making them stress-free, with no assembly points to fail or leak.
*The tanks are fully ribbed and domed for strength.

*They are lighter than concrete, making them easier to transport.

*Baker says colour and ultra-violet stabilisers give the plastic long-term resistance and
stability against the weather.

*No chemical reactions take place during the manufacture.

*The plastic used doesn't taint the tank 's contents.

*They are maintenance-free.

Cost (not including installation)
*Concrete tanks (prices from Jacobs Water Tanks): 5000 gallon (22,500 litre) tank; $2550.
8000 gallon (36,000 litre) tank; $3950.

*Plastic (price from Aqua Tanks): 5555 gallon (25,210 litre); $2975.