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It is proposed to collect rainwater from the roof of a house and to store it in an underground tank as shown - Leaving Cert Construction Studies - Question 7 - 2018
Question 7
It is proposed to collect rainwater from the roof of a house and to store it in an underground tank as shown. (a) Draw the given sketch and show the pipework necess... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:It is proposed to collect rainwater from the roof of a house and to store it in an underground tank as shown - Leaving Cert Construction Studies - Question 7 - 2018
Step 1
Draw the given sketch and show the pipework necessary to collect the rainwater from the roof and to convey it to the underground storage tank. Label the main components and give their typical sizes.
Answer
To collect rainwater from the roof, sketch the house and the roof structure. Below the roof, include a gully trap that leads to a downpipe. The downpipe should connect to a filter, which will prevent debris from entering the underground tank. Use the following dimensions for the pipework:
- 125 mm rainwater pipe
- 65 mm downpipe
- Gully trap with filter (100 mm underground pipe to filter)
- Filter with an overflow pipe leading to the underground tank (100 mm)
- Underground tank with a sufficient capacity to store rainwater.
- Overflow pipe leading away from the tank.
Label these components clearly in your diagram.
Step 2
Show, using notes and freehand sketches, the pipework and pump necessary to take the water from the underground tank to a storage tank in the attic. Show also how to connect the toilet cistern to the storage tank in the attic. Include the necessary valves.
Answer
Sketch a layout where the underground tank is depicted on the ground floor and the storage tank is placed in the attic. Include:
- A 12 mm suction pipe with a floating filter to draw water from the underground tank.
- A pump with power supply connected to the suction pipe to move rainwater to the attic.
- A 12 mm pipe leading from the pump to the storage tank in the attic (with a capacity of 230 litres).
- A 12 mm pipe from the storage tank to the toilet cistern, as well as control valves and a stop valve to manage the flow.
- Ensure that the layout clearly shows connections and the positioning of the components.
Step 3
Discuss one advantage of storing rainwater in an underground tank.
Answer
One significant advantage of storing rainwater in an underground tank is that it saves space above ground. This is particularly beneficial in sites with limited land availability, as underground tanks do not consume valuable surface area. Additionally, underground tanks can help reduce the risk of algae growth since they are shielded from direct sunlight, thus improving water quality and reducing maintenance needs.