Water Tank Towers.

[Huggybearman]

If you are looking at having a low level tank with pump to pressurise the water from tank to taps then ideally you would have a combined pump and accumulator tank, also called a bladder tank, to avoid the pump cycling everytime a tap is turned on. Something similar to this: 

If you are unsure about what you are doing then it might pay to get some professional advice as to the power of the pump and size of the accumilator tank. A lot will depend on the height of your building, and number of taps likely to be used at any one time. Are you likely to be taking a shower in an upstairs bathroom and the missus starts to water the garden or turn on the washing machine? Make sure the size of pump will cope.

Ken

Edited August 14, 2019 by Huggybearman
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[Onemore52]

17 minutes ago, Huggybearman said:

If you are looking at having a low level tank with pump to pressurise the water from tank to taps then ideally you would have a combined pump and accumulator tank, also called a bladder tank, to avoid the pump cycling everytime a tap is turned on. Something similar to this: 

If you are unsure about what you are doing then it might pay to get some professional advice as to the power of the pump and size of the accumilator tank. A lot will depend on the height of your building, and number of taps likely to be used at any one time. Are you likely to be taking a shower in an upstairs bathroom and the missus starts to water the garden or turn on the washing machine? Make sure the size of pump will cope.

Ken

Thanks for the information as well as the photo, sure helps in my research to get water, luckily the house is only one level with not many outlets, so this might be what I am looking for.

Would this setup negate the need for a bigger tank on the supply side, or would it help to have the bigger tank for a supply?

 

[Dave Hounddriver]

In our subdivision, the builders put in a large storage tank that supplies the whole subdivision.  It is filled with municipal water but it does not fill fast enough so the subdivision has an electric pump to suck water from the municipal line and fill the tank.  It works until there is a brown out.  Then the tank quickly empties and everyone's pressure goes down as the level in the tank goes down.  Within 4 hours of a brownout we have no water.

Some households but a private tank at the same height as the subdivision tank.  It fills when the subdividion tank is maxed and it costs them nothing for electricity.  They have water during brownouts.  I would do the same if I was sure how long I was going to live here.

So why don't they build the tank higher or use a pressure pump for higher pressure?  Simple answer is the lines here are not built to withstand more than that gravity pressure.  There are already enough leaks in people's houses that the subdivision restricts the flow of water - lessening the pressure- and thus lessening the consumption due to leaks.

Most people only need extra pressure when having a shower so it is possible to buy a 5000 peso single use pressure pump (I bought mine at the hardware store in Robinsons Mall).  It will provide all the pressure you need to the shower unit without affecting anyone or anything else.

Your Mileage May Vary

[Onemore52]

Dave, thanks for very informative reply.

 

[Clermont]

2 hours ago, Huggybearman said:

Something similar to this: 

Thanks for detailed info, exactly what he needs with a sealed tank for storage of water during brown outs, keep at low level for safety, make sure you put a breather in the tank and gauze the breather for mozzies.  cheap, simple and easy to get at for maintenance.

[hk blues]

1 hour ago, Dave Hounddriver said:

 It will provide all the pressure you need to the shower unit without affecting anyone or anything else.

 

That's very neighbourly of you - in my place, most of the neighbours don't care that they are affecting others enjoyment of the already weak supply at times.  The HOA rules specifically states no pumps allowed but...

[Onemore52]

I did ask the GF if there was an avenue for people to complain, sign a petition or something to give to the service provider to voice their concerns of no water but evidently the general population just cop it on the chin, while the stores selling water make a motza.

[hk blues]

18 minutes ago, Onemore52 said:

...but evidently the general population just cop it on the chin...

It's the Filipino way...no wonder improvement comes slowly here.  

[Dave Hounddriver]

2 hours ago, hk blues said:

The HOA rules specifically states no pumps allowed but...

Most HOA rules do say that.  But as you say . . . but.  I often wondered how my subdivision gets away with sucking water from the municipal supply at such huge volumes.  I guessed they have their own private line direct to a municipal storage reservoir.  That is not uncommon.  I do not care enough to ask.

[Huggybearman]

2 hours ago, hk blues said:

The HOA rules specifically states no pumps allowed but...

That seems to be quite common. My reading of the 'rules' regarding pumps is that you cannot use one to 'suck' water directly from the mains. If you have a water tank then you can have a pump ''down stream' of the tank to pressurise the house system as that will not affect the mains supply side.