Areas throughout Australia are facing serious drought conditions, so many are opting for the installation of a water tank, sometimes several water tanks. Not only is it a great way to be able to still tend to your gardens, it's also very useful as household water. For example, water tank water can be used to wash your clothes. There are some benefits to using water tank water in your washing.
Rainwater collects on the roof; from there it is harvested into a water tank for later use. In drought stricken areas or areas where groundwater supplies aren't always reliable rainwater harvesting is an efficient method of providing household water.
There are several different types of water tanks available, however polyethylene tanks are quite popular because they are both cost effective, sturdy, and easy to fit because of the many size choices. The installation to your washer will take your plumber no time at all to do.
What makes the water so soft is the lack of calcium, iron, magnesium, and manganese salts. Rainwater is packet with oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. It is estimated the use of rainwater for laundry will certainly save you on your water bills and it will also save you on laundry detergent because rainwater is soft and soft water requires substantially less detergent. In fact it is estimated that you can cut your laundry detergent by half depending on the detergent, load type, and actual softness of the rainwater, which can vary from one region to another. You will also reduce the amount of bleach you need.
You don't want silt or dirt entering your washing, after all that would make washing your clothes rather pointless wouldn't it. That means the rainwater you collect off your roof needs to enter a water tank. It is in the water tank that the silt will sink to the bottom and be held.