System for storing water

Abstract

A system for storing water in or under a concrete slab of the type in which one or more void forming elements are used to form one or more voids in the concrete slab. The system comprises one or more water storage means, such as pipes ( 12, 14, 26, 18 and 20 ) positioned in the one or more void forming elements ( 10 ) and at least one port ( 26 ) for supplying water to the one or more water storage means. The void forming elements may be boxes.

1 . A system for storing water in or under a concrete slab of the type in which one or more void forming elements are used to form one or more voids in the concrete slab, the system comprising one or more water storage means positioned in the one or more void forming elements and at least one port for supplying water to the one or more water storage means. 
   
   
       2 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least one port is also used for extracting or removing water from the system for storing water. 
   
   
       3 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least one port is placed into fluid communication with the roof, and guttering and/or down pipe(s) of a building. 
   
   
       4 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the system is further provided with one or more water outlets for removing water therefrom. 
   
   
       5 . A system as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the one or more water outlets comprise one or more sumps or one or more valves or taps. 
   
   
       6 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the one or more water storage means comprise one or more pipes. 
   
   
       7 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising at least one manifold that is connected to at least one down pipe from the roof or guttering of the building. 
   
   
       8 . A system as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the least one manifold includes one or more outlets that are connected to one or more of the water storage means. 
   
   
       9 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the concrete slab is provided with a plurality of void forming elements that are spaced from each other, two or more of the void forming elements having water storage means located therein, and the system further includes conduit means interconnecting one of the water storage means to another water storage means. 
   
   
       10 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the water storage means includes a plurality of pipe modules, each module being positioned in a void forming element, and one or more of the pipe modules being connected to and in fluid communication with another of the pipe modules. 
   
   
       11 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the void forming elements comprise boxes made from expanded polystyrene or cardboard boxes. 
   
   
       12 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the water storage system is provided with one or more filters or first flush diverters. 
   
   
       13 . A concrete slab for a building in which one or more void forming elements form one or more voids in the concrete slab, characterized in that the slab includes one or more water storage means positioned within the one or more void forming elements. 
   
   
       14 . A method for forming a concrete slab for a building comprising the steps of placing one or more void forming elements at required locations, placing reinforcement as required and pouring concrete to cover the void forming elements and reinforcement, wherein one or more water storage means are positioned in the void forming elements. 
   
   
       15 . A method for forming a water storage system comprising the steps of placing one or more void forming elements at required locations, placing reinforcement as required and pouring concrete to cover the void forming elements and reinforcement, wherein one or more water storage means are positioned in the void forming elements. 
   
   
       16 . A box for use in the construction of waffle slabs, characterized in that the box includes a water storage means positioned below an upper surface of the box. 
   
   
       17 . A box characterized in that the box includes a water storage means positioned therein, the box being adapted to be mounted inside a wall or to a wall of a structure or building.