Flush Caps, Leaf Diverters, and More: Methods to Help Protect Your Water Supply

When it comes to maintaining a clean and safe water supply, minimising what enters your water tank is key. Sediment buildup from leaves, dust, pollen, and other debris leads to contamination, affecting the quality and safety of the water you rely on. Fortunately, several effective methods can help minimise these issues. In this blog, we’ll explore various sediment minimisation techniques, including gutter whiskers, flush caps, first flush diverters, leaf diverters, and tank inlet screens—all designed specifically to limit materials entering your rainwater collection tank(s).

Gutter Whiskers

Gutter Whiskers are a simple yet effective solution for minimising larger debris from accumulating in your gutters. This helps to prevent the debris from being washed into your downpipes and then ultimately into your water tank. Made from bristles that sit inside your gutters, they allow rainwater to flow through while trapping leaves and deterring birds from nesting.

Gutter Whiskers are easy to install and require regular yet trouble-free maintenance. We recommend regularly checking the bristles for any accumulation of debris, especially after heavy rains. If you notice significant buildup, you can remove the debris by hand, or by using a hose or soft brush. Additionally, we advise inspecting the bristles for wear and tear, and replacing them as needed to maintain optimum performance.

Key Benefits:

Minimising Debris: By using gutter protection, the amount of larger debris that enters your tank is reduced
Easy installation: Simply insert the gutter whiskers into a clean gutter channel, ensuring they fit snugly for optimal performance.
Water Quality Maintenance: This method helps ensure that only cleaner water fills your tank, improving overall water quality.

Flush Caps (Sanitary Junctions)

A Flush cap’s purpose is to help divert built up debris in your downpipes and underground pipes feeding water into your tank. The Flush Cap should be installed at the lowest point of your inlet pipe as it comes out of the ground.

By simply unscrewing the flush cap – ideally after or during rain, built-up pressure will flush out stagnant water and debris from your pipes, minimising contamination of your water supply.

For optimal performance, we recommend removing the Flush Cap during or after your first autumn/winter rainfall. This is especially important as after the summer months, the water and debris will have sat in the pipes longer due to lack of rainfall, often leading to unpleasant odours.

Key Benefits:

Sediment Removal: Flush caps allow for the diversion of sediment and debris, helping your tank to remain clean.
Preventing Stagnation: Regular flushing helps eliminate stagnant water, which can be a breeding ground for harmful bacteria.
Affordable: It is a cheaper option as you only need one Flush Cap installed on your tank inlet pipe and the Flush Cap itself is relatively inexpensive.

First Flush Diverters

First Flush Diverters are specifically designed to redirect the initial flow of rainwater into a collection chamber. This is important because the first runoff from your roof and gutters often contains the highest concentrations of contaminants, such as leaves, dirt, and pollen, which can accumulate between rainfalls. For the best results in rainwater harvesting, they are typically installed on every downpipe

First flush diverters come in various shapes and sizes but follow the same function. When it rains, the first portion of water carries this debris, and the first flush diverter captures it. As rainwater enters the chamber, a floating ball rises with the water level and eventually seals the chamber once it is full. This mechanism allows the cleaner water to flow through the pipes and into your water tank.

After each rainfall, the contaminated water drains from the chamber through a small hole at the base. To clean the diverter and remove debris, follow these simple steps:

Unscrew the smaller nipple where the water slowly drains.
Remove the filter inside and rinse it thoroughly before reinserting it into the chamber.
Unscrew the larger cap to release any accumulated debris from the chamber.
Reassemble all parts to prepare the diverter for the next rainfall

To maintain optimal performance, we recommend cleaning your first flush diverter at least every two months. This will prevent excessive debris buildup and ensure that cleaner water enters your tank.

Key Benefits:

Contaminant Reduction: By diverting the first flush, these systems reduce the amount of debris entering your tank.
Water Quality Maintenance: This method helps ensure that only cleaner water fills your tank, improving overall water quality.

Leaf Diverters

Leaf diverters are installed on the gutters or downpipes of your home and are designed to prevent leaves and larger debris from reaching your water tank.

As rainwater flows from the roof and gutters to the downpipes, it carries along unwanted materials like leaves. The leaf diverter utilises a mesh screen that allows water to pass through while redirecting debris away from the water supply. This stops leaves making their way into the tank, enhancing the quality of your collected rainwater.

Most leaf diverters feature removable mesh screens, for ease of maintenance. You do need to regularly check and clear the screens to ensure the leaf diverters continue to work and do not prevent water flow.

It is important to note that leaf diverters need to be installed at the top of downpipes that are at a height above the water tank(s) (otherwise you risk your precious water draining out of the holes where the leaf diverters are installed). Additionally, you also need to ensure you have the necessary clearance on your downpipes to fit the leaf diverter prior to purchase.

Key Benefits:

Debris Prevention: They catch leaves before they can enter the water collection system, which helps keep your tank and water cleaner.
Easy Maintenance: You can easily rinse the mesh screen off with water if sediment accumulates and obstructs water flow, although most leaves and debris will naturally fall away over time.

Tank Inlet Screens/Trays

Tank inlet screens are mesh filters placed at the entrance of the water tank (usually on the roof of the tank where the inlet pipe enters). They serve as a barrier to try to minimise leaves, pests, some insects, and debris from entering the tank. The mesh screen allows water to easily flow into the tank and keeps unwanted debris and pests out.

The Tank Inlet Screen is maintained by unscrewing and brushing off accumulated debris. This needs to be regularly checked and cleaned to prevent blockages and ensure you continue to collect rainwater.

Key Benefits:

Physical Filtration: Inlet screens effectively filter out larger particles, protecting the integrity of your water supply.
Easy Maintenance: Most screens are removable and can be cleaned or replaced easily, ensuring optimal functionality.

The Importance of Regular Tank Cleaning

While these protective measures can reduce sediment and debris, it’s essential to recognise that they don’t eliminate all risks. Even with these precautions, sediment will inevitably accumulate over time, and some contaminants, such as bacteria from bird droppings, will find their way into your tank. For this reason, it’s key to understand the importance of:

Regular Water Tank Cleaning: ideally with sediment and UV filtration, remains a crucial part of ensuring a safe and clean water supply.
Regular Roof and Gutter Cleaning: This helps prevent clogs in systems like first flush diverters and gutter whiskers, ensuring they function effectively.
Ongoing Tank Maintenance: Regularly check for cracks in the tank, hatch, or inlet pipe, as these can allow sediment and bacteria to bypass your preventative methods.

Why Cleaning Matters

Health and Safety: Sediment build-up can affect the safety, taste and smell of your water supply, whilst also providing a food source for harmful bacteria and pathogens. Regular cleaning helps eliminate these risks.
Safe water: Regularly cleaning your tank ensures any installed filtration system can operate to its optimum, allowing the water entering your home to be safe on an ongoing basis.
Long-Term Maintenance: Keeping your tank clean can extend its lifespan and improve the overall efficiency of your water system.

Conclusion

In summary, employing leaf and sediment prevention methods such as gutter whiskers, flush caps, first flush diverters, leaf diverters, and tank inlet screens can help maintain the quality of your water supply. For best results, it’s advisable to install a combination of these preventative methods, to maximise debris control and ensure cleaner rainwater harvesting. However, these systems should be seen as part of a comprehensive approach that includes regular tank cleaning and filtration. By investing in both prevention and maintenance, you can ensure that your water remains clean, safe, and healthy for you and your family or business.

If you’re considering upgrading your water tank system, be sure to incorporate at least one of these methods for optimal water quality. And remember, regular professional tank cleaning is key to safeguarding your water supply.