When planning your water storage, it’s important to think about how your shed and tank can work together.
A shed roof is one of the most effective catchment areas for rainwater harvesting, and when paired with a Pioneer Water Tank, you can maximise every drop that falls. The size of shed you choose will directly influence the amount of water you can collect, so getting the balance right between shed roof area, tank capacity and your property’s water needs is key.
That’s where Pioneer’s expertise comes in. As part of the Ahrens Group, we work closely with Wheatbelt Steel and Safety Steel Structures to help you match a shed and tank solution that delivers long-term water security.
A shed does more than provide shelter for machinery, hay or livestock – it can double as a large catchment system. By fitting your shed with quality gutters and downpipes, all rainfall is directed straight into your Pioneer Water Tank. With Wheatbelt Steel or Safety Steel sheds designed for the Australian climate, you can be confident your structure will deliver strength and reliability as well as extra water security.
The right shed size comes down to your priorities – whether that’s storing machinery, hay, feed, or creating a workshop. Once you know the primary purpose, the teams at Wheatbelt Steel and Safety Steel Structures can help design a shed that also doubles as a rainwater harvesting asset. Larger roof areas naturally capture more rainfall, but the shed should first and foremost suit your farming or business needs. From there, Pioneer work with you to match it with a tank that makes the most of the roof catchment.
To calculate how much water you can harvest from any roof on your property, you will need to know the total area in metres squared of your roof, and your local annual average rainfall. If you know the microclimate of your block, the annual rainfall on your property will give you an even more accurate figure.
The formula is simple, simply multiply the Annual Rainfall (mm) by the Roof Size (M²), and you will have your annual rainfall harvesting capacity in Litres (L).
If you’ve already got a shed, the size of your tank should reflect both your roof catchment and your water usage. A larger roof means you can comfortably fill a bigger tank, especially during wetter months. If your shed has limited roof space, a mid-sized tank may be the best fit. Pioneer offers a wide range of capacities, and our team can help match your existing shed to the most efficient tank option.
It’s a straightforward process. Once your shed is built, gutters and downpipes are installed to channel water into your tank. From there, Pioneer tanks are engineered with smart inlet and outlet systems to ensure efficient filling and safe storage. Our teams work closely with Wheatbelt Steel and Safety Steel to ensure the shed and tank connect seamlessly, giving you a reliable rainwater harvesting system with minimal hassle.
As long as you have the required clearance from your shed to your water tank (1m diameter on all sides), then your tank can be installed as close or as far away from your shed as best suits your property or layout.
Simply keep in mind that for every 1m away from your downpipe that your water tank is, the inlet must be 5cm lower. So if your water tank is installed 10m from your shed, then the roof will need to be at least 50cm below the shed’s downpipe.
As part of the Ahrens family of rural infrastructure brands, Pioneer Water Tanks can work with a shed company local to you to ensure the best quality shed at the best value.
If you aren’t located in Western Australia or Victoria, contact the team at Ahrens Steel to see how we can work to make your shed a reality.
Wheatbelt Steel
23 Clayton Street
Bellevue WA 6056
1800 800 909
Safety Steel Structures
34-50 Nathan Road
Dandenong VIC 3175
03 9706 7711
Ahrens
Wilhelm Rd
Kingsford SA 5118
1800 268 519
For more information or pricing on world-class water storage today, call 1800 999 599 or fill out our form online, and we’ll be in touch shortly.
