First Flush Rainwater Diverter Filter Kit – 80 mm Round Intake.

The First Flush rainwater filter system will divert any small or dissolved pollutants from your roof and gutters into a separate pipe chamber, so it does not enter the tank. It also stops sediment building up in the bottom of your tank.

When it first starts to rain, water slowly builds up in the roof gutter system before it exits through the downpipe. The first flush of water from the roof can contain amounts of bacteria from decomposed insects, lizards, bird and animal droppings and concentrated tannic acid. It may also contain sediments, water borne heavy metals and chemical residues, all of which are undesirable elements to have in a water storage system.

Gutter mesh and baskets (leaf catchers) will help with leaves and larger debris but can t stop small bits like dust and bacteria. That is why it is recommended that you install a First Flush Diverter. We all know that prevention is better than cure and so it makes sense to stop the pollutants from entering your tank.

How it works:

The first flush device is installed along the gutter down pipe that will feed into your water tank. As the water level in the first flush diverter chamber (110mm pipe) rises, the ball floats and rises. Once the chamber is full, the ball rests on a seat inside the chamber preventing any further water entering the diverter. The subsequent flow of clean water is then automatically directed along the pipe system through the T piece into the rain water tank.

It is best to have one first flush diverter on each downpipe however a single unit can be placed close to the tank and perform a first flush for several downpipes. This will really depend on how big your roof catchment is and how clean you need the water to be.

The amount of water you need to first flush will depend on a few things like:

– The size of your roof- The recommended minimum first flush is 4L per 20sqm of roof catchment area.

– The amount of leaves and pollution on the roof (polluted areas need to be flushed more).

– The intended use of the water.

(You should always check the quality of the water in your tanks before drinking it).

The amount of water flushed is determined by the length of the 110mm PVC (flush) pipe attached to the first flush kit. The average is 1m of 110mm PVC pipe will flush 50sqm of roof catchment area. The 110mm pipe is not included in the DIY kit but is readily available at any good hardware store. (It is sometimes only sold in 4 or 6 metre lengths although some hardware stores or plumbing supplier will cut a piece for you). As an example, 850 mm of 110mm pipe will give you an 8 litre system.

The first flush system is a simple and effective device. After the rain, just drain the system through the valve, ready for the next rain. The bottom of the unit (end cap) can be screwed off to fully clean the unit occasionally. During periods of frequent rain, it may not be necessary to drain the first flush device every time it starts raining as the roof and gutters may already be clean.

First flush systems work best when a leaf catcher box is installed at the start of the down pipe. The leaf catcher box (available and sold separately) is fitted at the start of the downpipe either directly on the underside of the roof gutter at the facia board, or to the wall. The device deflects leaves and debris away from the flow of rainwater.

A diagram of the installation is printed on the box.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THE FIRST FLUSH DEVICE:

You will need to secure the First Flush and pipes to a wall or other structure. This should only be done after you have assembled the first flush kit in full as follows:

1) Cut your required length of 110mm PVC pipe to use as the chamber pipe. The length you require should leave enough area at the bottom of the device to the ground as space is required for the end cap to be screwed off for occasional cleaning and space for the valve for draining the water. Enough space to insert a bucket to drain into is a good idea or attach a hose to the valve. Take into consideration that the 80mm round T piece is installed at a height above the tank so there is a slight fall (water flow) towards the tank filling inlet.

2) Attach the bottom end base cap assembly to the 110mm pipe you have cut using PVC plumbing glue or a good plumbing silicone. (it s a good idea to put some Vaseline on the threads to make it seal better and thread the cap on and off smoothly).

HINT: Only screw the valve into to the end base cap once the installation is complete. This will minimize the chance of snapping the valve off in the end cap housing if you drop the pipe while installing!

3) Insert the ball into the chamber.

4) Insert the top end cap onto the 110mm pipe and secure using PVC glue. (The top cap has a belled 80mm inlet).

5) Once the unit is assembled and the PVC glue is dry, remove or cut the existing downpipe at the required height.

6) To affix the first flush unit to the wall, 2 x 110mm mounting bracket is included in the DIY kit. (If more mounting brackets are required to secure the unit, they can be bought at your local hardware store or plumbing supplier)

7) Your existing 80mm down pipe can then be easily and simply inserted into the top cap of the first flush device.

What’s in the box
1 x 80 to 110 mm intake cap
1 x Float ball.
1 x 110mm holder bats.
1 x 80mm round T piece.
1 x Bottom 110mm base cap with screw off lid
1 x Valve