Why Installing OSD Tanks in New Homes So Important?

Anybody who plans on building a new home in Australia must fulfill a few requirements from their local council. While the rules vary depending on the location, one that remains mostly consistent is stormwater detention. Stormwater refers to the rainwater that reaches the ground surface. As storms are common in Australia, a heavy downpour could generate a significant amount of stormwater, increasing the risk of floods. As residential, commercial, and industrial buildings are increasing by the day, there is constant pressure on existing underground drainage infrastructure. Because of this reason, several councils are considering the idea of increasing the general capacity of the existing drainage to manage the increased stormwater flow. As councils aren’t able to deal with this problem all by themselves, the burden can often fall upon homeowners to ensure that the stormwater runoff in their property is more manageable. How Does Stormwater Drainage Work? While developing and designing a property, a stormwater design is generated. Most houses tend to have OSD tanks that are a part of the home drainage system. A few of them are concrete basins or water tanks beneath the driveways that capture stormwater runoff and hold it to reduce the impact of flooding. The water that’s stored is drained slowly from a tiny opening that’s present near the tank’s base. When most homes located in flood-prone areas have detention systems, it is possible to significantly minimize damage caused by the floods during the peak season. Different Types of Onsite Stormwater Detention There are mainly four options available for onsite stormwater detention – ● Underground Storage Tanks – These tanks are designed as a part of the rainwater harvesting system to store excess water that overflows from a rainwater tank. They can also be placed below driveways to receive more stormwater runoff. ● Stormwater Detention Tanks – These tanks are specially designed to have split storage inside them; one is to store stormwater and the other for rainwater. ● Rainwater Tanks – Though the water cannot drain away slowly, large storage tanks can help in satisfying some of the council requirements. ● Surface Holding Areas – These would include soakage pits, basins, swimming pools, or trenches. Key Difference between Rainwater and OSD Tanks rnNew houses that are in areas where councils need homeowners to have the responsibility of helping with stormwater would require OSD tanks. What detention means is to store water for a limited period. These tanks are designed to stay empty, except during heavy rainfall and shortly after that. What makes these tanks different from rainwater tanks is that they come with a valve to release the water slowly over time. There are two ways to implement a stormwater detention solution – ● Use two separate water tanks, one for stormwater detention and the other to harvest rainwater. ● Use a specially designed dual-use water detention system. The rules and regulations surrounding stormwater detention can vary significantly from one location to another. Hence, it is important to discuss with the local council before investing in any stormwater detention system.