In 2004, RAD Architecture came up with a concept to re-design the more than a century-old Brisbane Street residence in Perth after the local authorities required that a large expanse of wall be superficially ‘decorated’. 

The intention with the design was to embed technology throughout the house to facilitate an environment that would respond to the clients and their needs, thus ‘creating a logical sequence of spatial experiences’.

Architect on the project, Craig Riley, says it was the client Jayson Puls who took control of water management within the renovation as he had a desire to make the house as sustainable as possible.

Included in the water management systems was the implementation of rainwater harvesting tanks on the roof as well as water efficient toilets by Rogerseller.

“We have a rainwater harvesting system for drinking water so we catch the water off the roof and that goes to the storage tank upstairs. That’s gradually fed to the kitchen and we also catch the water on the terrace and that’s used to flush the toilets,” Puls said.

“The filter system that it all goes through is called a RainBank and the pump is the same as a well. In terms of the tanks they’re only 100mm wide and they’re basically designed to fit into the cavity of a wall so that they’re hidden.”

Kirsty Chivell, market manager for water conservation and treatment at Davey, the suppliers of the RainBank, says there are four basic types of the unit:

• Attached to a standard surface pump beside the tank

• Wall mounted (usually above the tank) with a submersible pump

• A filter contained in a wall mounted cabinet

• Tankworks Evolution mkii submersible pump and filter with RainBank that sits in the top of the tank for a neat installation.

By installing the Australian-made RainBank, people can use their tank water instead of the mains water when it is available to flush toilets, wash clothes in the laundry and for use in the garden.

Puls says that the water systems have served them well since they were installed.

“We’ve had a great experience with the RainBank - we know when we have a problem because we don’t get any water coming out and that normally means that the filter needs to be cleaned out but so far it’s been very reliable and the pump has too.”

Photography: Andrew Pritchard & Jayson Puls