The invention has been developed especially for urban use, and the invention is, for convenience described in that context. However, it will be understood that the invention does have a broader application and is not limited to that use.

Background of the Invention Water is a precious resource but the majority of domestic homes, particularly in urban areas, do not have systems to collect surface water but rather rely solely on town water.

There is an increasing tendency to have onsite water storage systems. This is necessary in some instance when a property is not connected to town water. In other instances it is used to supplement town water supply.

Traditionally onsite water storage systems have been in the form of bulky solid tanks, drums or barrels that collected run off from the roof. These have typically impacted on the aesthetic appeal of the home.

A further problem with onsite water storage systems is that the water is not of consistent quality and depends largely on the environment from which the water is collected and stored, and can be unreliable in supply.

Summary of the Invention In a first aspect, the invention relates to a method of supplying water comprising the steps of feeding water collected from at least one catchment area into a plurality of water storage units, and discharging the

stored water from the water storage units into a common water supply.

In one form the water fed into the plurality of water storage units is collected from a plurality of catchment areas. Moreover, in one form, the catchment areas are associated with respective ones of the water storage units and the method further comprises the step of feeding the collected water from the catchment areas into their associated water storage units.

In one form the water storage units are located in close proximity to the catchment areas to which they are associated.

The above form of the method of water supply is ideally suited to urban areas. The individual catchment areas may include the roofs of buildings located in the area. The collected water is then fed into a plurality of water storage units which are typically distributed over an area. As such, these water storage units act as micro reservoirs and can be placed in an urban area without requiring large tracts of land as would be the case in a major reservoir. Further, the water storage units which are typically in the form of water tanks may be concealed such as being located underground or within or against a building structure. Whilst the water is held in the individual tanks, it is discharged through a discharge system to a common water supply system. This common water supply may be designed solely to supply water to an individual site (such as a domestic dwelling) or to a plurality of sites. Alternatively, the common water supply may be a main town water supply or may be a separate B grade water supply.

In one form the water storage units are designed to be located outside a residential property such as on a council footpath or verge or under a road. In that application, the water storage system may be provided and managed by the local authorities. This arrangement has particular benefit as it allows a local water authority or

council to establish a distributed water storage system which is ideally suited to supplement town water supply.

Such an arrangement is therefore particularly well suited in residential areas where the town water supply is considered inadequate to service the community needs.

Typically the water is discharged from the water storage units under pressure. In this arrangement, typically water is pumped and therefore can be supplied at a feed pressure which is consistent with town water.

In one form, the stored water may be appropriately treated so as to either be fed back into the town water system or alternatively used for potable water in conjunction with, or instead of the town water. In one form, the water treatment includes a filtering system which is preferably downstream from the water storage units. In that form, water which is drawn from the water storage units is appropriately filtered through the filter and then fed back in to the town water system or to a separate water supply facility.

In one form, the stored water is discharged into the common water supply under predetermined conditions. These conditions may be based on the level of water in the storage unit and/or on demand for the water.

Alternatively, or combination with the predetermined conditions, the stored water is discharged into the common water supply at predetermined intervals. For example, a sensor may be provided to sense the level of water in the water storage units, and when it is above a certain level a pump is activated to discharge water either at intermediate intervals or on a continuos basis into the common water supply until such time as the water levels drop below a certain level in the storage units.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method of storing water, the method comprising the steps of: disposing a plurality of water storage units about a site; interconnecting the water storage units so that they

are in fluid communication; providing at least one inlet to the water storage units operable to receive water from a catchment area; and providing at least one outlet to discharge water from the water storage units.

In accordance with this aspect of the invention, a network of water storage units is formed to provide a distributed water storage system. This network arrangement allows a water storage system that can be scaled to the water storage requirements of the site, and provide capacities comparable to conventional tank arrangements. Further, by providing a plurality of water storage units, rather than a single tank, the water storage system can be more conveniently located on site and can reduce the aesthetic impact of the water storage system.

In one form, the method of the invention further comprises the step of concealing at least some of the units either within the ground or within a building structure. In this aspect, at least some of the units, if not all of them, are hidden from view, as they may be buried or incorporated within a building structure such as being incorporated within a wall, or in a floor slab or the like.

The units are typically in the form of discrete water tanks or modules may be formed in any suitable shape, and in particular, different shaped units may be provided which are better suited to different environments. For example, if the units are designed to be incorporated within a building structure, then they may be shaped so as to more easily locate within that structure. In one form, where the water storage units are designed to be located within the ground, the thickness of the units may be substantially less than their length and width. In use the water storage units may be buried edge on into the ground so as to better avoid existing services such as pipes and the like.

Incorporating the water storage units within a building structure has particular advantages in that this configuration can increase the amount of passive solar heating/cooling that can be incorporated into the structure and thus provides for energy saving benefits.

Another advantage relates to fire protection, where the building structure incorporates a source of water for fire fighting, and the provision of an additional heat barrier in the structure. The system can also act as an insulator and the structure can be used to protect the units and even resist the hydrostatic pressures induced when the unit is filled with water.

The method of any of the preferred forms above are ideally suited for domestic use. In that application, the catchment area for the water storage system is typically the house roof with a system set up so that water is channelled from the roof into one or more of the water storage units. However, water can be introduced in other forms, such as being pumped into the system from a separate tank, or the system could in fact be connected to town water if required.

In one form,, the distributed water system may be provided so as to be supplied only to specific outlets on a site. For example, the water from the distributed water system may be supplied to the garden and/or to laundry or toilet facilities whilst the town water is supplied to the kitchen and other sites which may be accessed to obtain drinking water.

In one form, each network of water storage units may be confined to a specific site. In another form, the network of water storage units in one specific site may be linked to other sites so that there is at least some local sharing of the water resources. For example, the water from a plurality of homes may flow to a common network of water storage units which are located either on the individual sites and/or on council property such as under the road or on the footpath or verge.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a system for use in any form of the above methods. The water storage system comprises a plurality of water storage units that are interconnected so as to be in fluid communication with one another. The water storage system further comprises at least one feed system to receive water from at least one catchment area, and a discharge system to discharge water from the water storage units.

In one form, the system further comprises a pressure boosting arrangement so that the water is fed from the outlet under pressure.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a water storage system comprising a plurality of water storage units, the water storage units being interconnected to be in fluid communication with one another, and wherein the water storage units are integrated into a building structure.

The water output pressure of the system may be gravity fed and/or may be provided or supplemented with a pressure boosting arrangement.

Preferably the system is charged so that water can be circulated throughout the whole system. Charging of the system allows all parts of the system to be in fluid communication and prevents areas of stagnant water developing.

In one form, the invention provides a water storage system for integration in a wall of a cavity wall structure, the system comprising a plurality of water impervious water storage units, and means permitting fluid connection to be made between the water storage units.

This integration allows the thermal mass of the wall structure to be increased. Additionally, outlet head pressure can be increased by the positioning of the water storage unit in the upper segment of the wall cavity structure.

In another form the water storage system is integrated in a concrete or other settable material

structure. In this form, the water storage units may be shaped in a manner whereby they are used as a casting form for embedding within the structure.

The water storage system of the above form effectively form voids in the structure and thereby reduces the weight and cost that are inherent with solid slab construction. The technique of void production is commonly used in the concrete industry in waffle slab construction, and is typically achieved by placing expanded polystyrene to produce the voids.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a void former for a structure made from settable material, the void former being in the form of a water storage unit capable of acting as a water storage tank.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of forming a structure from settable material, the method comprising the steps of; providing at least one void former for the structure, the void former being in the form of a water storage unit; using the or each void former as part of the formwork for said structure; and casting settable material over the or each void former so that on setting of said settable material, the or each void former is at least partially embedded within said structure.

Preferably, the method further comprising the steps of providing a plurality of void formers, interconnecting said void formers so that the water storage units are in fluid communication with one another so as to provide a fluid storage system; and pouring settable material over the plurality of void formers so that said fluid storage system is integrated within said structure.

Preferably the settable material is cementitious and the structure is a waffle slab.

In yet a further aspect, the invention relates to a structure formed from settable material that incorporates at least one water storage unit at least partially embedded therein.

Brief Description of the Drawings It is convenient to herein describe embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The particulars of the drawings and related description is to be understood as not superseding the broad description of the invention.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a general layout of a distributed water storage system for a residential street; Fig. 2 is an alternative layout to that disclosed in figure 1 ; Fig. 3 is a further alternative layout to that disclosed in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows a section through a concrete slab comprising water retainers; Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a water retainer; Fig. 6 shows an elevation of a threaded connector; Fig. 7 shows a plan view of a series of interconnected water retainers for integration into a concrete foundation; and Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of a water retainer for integrating into a wall cavity.

Detailed Description of the Invention Fig. 1 illustrates a series of distributed water systems in a residential area 50. The area includes rows of residential lots 51 each of which include a dwelling 52. A street 53 runs through the residential area 50 and a council verge 54 is located between the street 53 and the lots 51.

For convenience, the distributed water systems 10, 101 and 1011 are only disclosed in relation to the properties on one side of the street 53. However, it is to be appreciated that each of the properties could

incorporate such a system as required.

Each of the distributed water system 10, 101 and 10 have similar features and therefore for convenience general reference is only made to water systems 10. This system 10 includes a plurality of water storage units 11.

In the arrangement of Fig. 1, these water storage units are disposed on council property on the verge 54. The water storage units 11 of the water storage system 10 are interconnected via connecting conduits 12 so that the water storage units 11 are in fluid communication with one another. Each water storage system 10, 101 and 101l is designed to service a number of properties. Because the water storage system 10 is disposed on council land and service a number of properties (52a and 52b) it is both owned an administered by the council authority or local water authority. The water storage system 10 is designed to receive run off from the roofs of the dwellings 52a and 52b through inlet pipes 13. In this way, the roofs of these dwellings provide natural catchment areas for the water storage system 10. The water storage system also includes a return pipe 14 which acts as an outlet for the water storage system 10 so that it can be accessed by the occupants of the houses 52a, 52b. Pumps 15 are connected to the outlet pipe 14 so as to provide water under pressure which is typically at a level consistent with town water.

An alternative arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 2.

As Fig. 2 is similar to the arrangement of Fig. 1, like features have been given like reference numerals.

The main difference with the arrangement of Fig. 2 is that the individual water storage units are all interconnected through a common pipe 30 so as to be fed into the town water system (represented in the drawing of figure 2 by pipe 60). To feed the water from the storage systems 10, 101, 102 a pump 31 is connected to the linking pipe 30 which enables water to be drawn from the individual water storage unit (11, 111, 112) prior to

entering the town water system 60 the water is caused to pass through a water treatment system 32 so as to ensure the quality of the water is consistent with the town water supply. The water treatment system 32 may merely be a filtering system or may include other chemical or biological water treatment processes.

A further alternative arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 3. Again, as Fig. 3 is similar to the arrangement of Fig. 1, like features have been given like reference numerals. The main difference with the arrangement of Fig. 3 is that each of the water storage systems is confined to a single dwelling and is located within the residential lots 51. In contrast to the arrangement of Fig. 1 where the council would typically maintain and administer the distributed water systems 10, in the arrangement of Fig. 3, these would be owned and managed by the owners of the residential properties.

In addition, the arrangement of Fig. 3 illustrates schematically different configurations of water storage system 10. Some of the systems 10 include the water storage units built into the walls of the dwellings 52, whilst others are buried within the garden. Yet another form has the water storage units embedded within a concrete slab. The configuration of these arrangements are disclosed below with reference to Figs. 4 to 8.

However, consistent with the arrangement of Fig. 1, each of the water storage systems includes an inlet pipe 13 which is designed to receive water from the roof of the dwelling. The system also includes an outlet pipe 14, and a pump 15 to discharge the water under pressure.

Turning to Fig. 4, the water storage system 10 is disclosed which is integrated in a concrete structure 100.

In the illustrated form, the structure 100 is formed as a waffle slab and includes a continuous thin slab 101 which is strengthened by underlying ribs 102 which extend in two directions. The water storage system 10 includes a plurality of water storage units 11 that are effectively

embedded in the structure 100 and are disposed between the ribs 102 and are joined by means of connectors 12.

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the water water storage unit 11. The water storage unit is typically formed from plastic, but may be formed from any other suitable material, and includes pairs of left handed female threaded sockets 16 and right handed female threaded sockets 17. The arrangement of these sockets enables convenient connection of the water water storage units 11 via the connectors 12.

Fig. 6 illustrates a typical connector 12 used in the system 10. The connector 12 is in the form of a rigid pipe that incorporates shoulders 18 adjacent each of its opposite ends 19,20. One end 19 has a left handed male threaded section and the other end 20 has a right hand male threaded section. The threaded ends 19 and 20 are arranged to be engaged with a respective threaded sockets 16 and 17 of the water storage unit 11 and the shoulders 18 seat against the wall of the water water storage units 11 so as to provide a coupling between the water storage units.

To integrate the water storage system 10 within the building concrete structure 100, the water water storage units are laid out in place and the concrete is cast over the water storage units. In the illustrated embodiment, the system 10 has an inlet 21 and an outlet 22 to connect the water storage units to the inlet and outlet pipes and to enable water to flow through the array. With this arrangement, the water storage units act as the initial void formers for the structure thereby obviating the need for separate void formers such as polystyrene or the like.

As shown in Fig. 7, the water water storage units are laid in a desired pattern so that the concrete structure 100 will form a waffle slab. The water storage units are held in position relative to each other by the connectors 12.

Fig. 8 illustrates a water water storage unit 11 for

integration in a wall structure 23, enclosed by a pair of wall studs 24 and a pair of wall panels 25.

As in the earlier embodiment, the water storage unit 11 is connected to other water storage units through a series of connectors 12 having left handed and right handed male threaded end sections. The series of water storage units integrated into the wall structure 23 may be connected to the water storage units 11 incorporated into the foundation of the building using similar connections.

The water storage system 10 has substantial practical benefits. By providing the system as a network of water storage units it allows the distribution of the water storage units throughout the structure thereby enabling it to be scaled to the water requirements of the building structure and providing capacities at least comparable to a conventional tank arrangement.

Furthermore, by integrating the water storage units within the building structure, the water storage system can be fully concealed. In addition, this arrangement provides benefits both to the building structure and the water storage system. In regard to the water storage system the water storage units are protected by the building structure, evaporation is reduced and the building structure assists in preventing the ingress of contaminates or foreign matter.

The advantages to the building structure in that it provides energy saving benefits by providing a level of insulation and also can have safety advantages relating to fire protection.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word"comprise"or variations such as "comprises"or"comprising"is used in an inclusive sense, i. e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Variations and modifications may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.