Everyone knows that drought is defined as low rainfall. Right? Unfortunately that is a very simplified understanding of drought that many people embrace. Drought is a much more complex condition that is impacted by the behaviours of nature and humans.
The Australian Government sums it up well in its definition of drought. On the government’s website the introduction to a discussion on drought says:
“A drought is a prolonged, abnormally dry period when there is not enough water for users’ normal needs. Drought is not simply low rainfall; if it was, much of inland Australia would be in almost perpetual drought. Because people use water in so many different ways, there is no universal definition of drought. Meteorologists monitor the extent and severity of drought in terms of rainfall deficiencies. Agriculturalists rate the impact on primary industries, hydrologists compare ground water levels, and sociologists define it on social expectations and perceptions.”
Reading this closely you will quickly understand that how people use water and their social expectations and perception affect the existence, the length, and the future possibility of a drought. That is the larger picture. The smaller picture is a question of what each person can do to avoid making an uninformed contribution to drought conditions. And let’s face it – avoiding the summer drought in Australia takes real effort!
Creating a Drought
As the Australian government website makes clear, humans can literally create a drought in an area through their actions. That is hard to believe when people are inundated with reports that global warming is to blame for all of the world’s developing water shortages.
But consider this fact. It takes 2.8 tonnes of water to manufacturer one t-shirt made from cotton. To make a kilo of milk takes 4 tonnes of water. These are just two examples of the enormous amount of water it takes to produce just one kilo of commonly used products. Then you can also consider how much water is used, and also wasted, in your home.
Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, and Perth are 4 areas that have a documented trend of decreasing average rainfall and increasing population. The more people there are then obviously the more water will be required. There are efforts being made to develop desalination plants as long-term alternatives but that won’t help you avoid that next summer drought. What can you do then to insure there is enough water available to run your household and also avoid contributing to the development of drought conditions?
No Drought in My Home!
You can install an underground water tank like one of the ones sold by Hidden Tanks. The tanks are custom built tanks that can be designed to hold 20,000 to 200,000 litres of water to be used for your household and landscaping water needs. These activities include the following.
* Lawn and garden watering
* Exterior home washing
* Driveway maintenance
* Auto maintenance
* Pet care
* Small farm needs such as providing water for animal troughs
But there is another aspect to hidden or underground water tanks. Preventing or reducing the severity of a drought means using less water and having a minimum impact on the environment. Hidden Tanks can help you accomplish both goals.
First is the fact you are able to collect rainwater and make good use of it instead of letting it run into stormwater systems. But you can also make a contribution to the environment by NOT impacting it in a negative manner. The underground water tanks are completely hidden except for the access lid. But even that is at ground level and can be covered with grass and soil like the rest of the tank lid.
One of the biggest impacts on water flow is natural and man-made obstructions. Ground erosion can contribute to drought conditions by diverting water in an unnatural manner. There are plenty of yards and gardens that have been inadvertently destroyed because of poor landscaping planning which included the installation of water flow impediments.
When you install a hidden water tank, there are never any worries about creating an unfortunate consequence such as ground erosion. The tanks are completely underground and custom fitted to the size and shape of the area where they are installed.
Environmentally Sound Action
If you want to avoid the inevitable Australian summer drought then installation of a hidden water tank should be the first step. This is how you change your perceptions of water, your impact on the environment, minimize your contribution to the development of drought conditions, and be as prepared as possible for an Australian water shortage.
Drought is a lot more than low rainfall, and that’s precisely why you need to take action and install a rainwater collection system. It is an environmentally sound action any way you look at it.
Hidden Tanks is a leading Australian supplier and installer of underground concrete rainwater tanks. For a free consultation please visit Concrete Water Tanks.
