On Waiheke Island, your rainwater system isn’t just a utility — it’s your lifeline. With local homes relying entirely on roof-collected rainwater, maintaining the full harvesting-to-tap system is critical, particularly during the dry summer months. Tankman are Waiheke Island’s rainwater system experts, and we make rainwater safe to drink for you and your family. 1. The Maintenance Checklist Your system has three key parts: Collection, Storage, and Delivery . Collection (Roof & Gutters)  Clear gutters twice a year, ideally in spring and autumn. Leaves, bird droppings, and overhanging trees are the most common causes of “swampy” smelling water. First-flush diverters should be checked every 2–3 months to ensure the slow-release valve isn’t blocked by silt. Always check tank inlet screens — even small holes can let in mosquitoes or rodents. Storage (The Tank)  Every 2–3 years, check the bottom of your tank for sludge. If sediment exceeds 5cm, it’s time for a professional de-sludge, usually done by vacuum so the tank doesn’t need emptying. Green algae is a sign that light is getting in — rainwater tanks must remain completely dark. Delivery (Pump & Filtration)  Most Waiheke homes use dual-stage filtration. Filters should be replaced every 6–12 months, or sooner if water pressure drops. UV steriliser bulbs also need annual replacement, even if they still appear to be working. 2. When to Call Tankman Persistent low pressure, pump cycling, murky water, or water quality concerns should be handled by professionals. With all jobs big or small we offer a full site holistic report that highlights potential water system weaknesses that addresses priority tasks with timelines. Tankman offers FIXED PRICE • NO SURPRISES • FRIENDLY ADVICE • RELIABLE SERVICE, keeping Waiheke homes water-secure all year-round. 116 Ostend Road (next to Waiheke Workout) (09) 372 7270 www.tankman.co.nz @tankmannz - Facebook

Brown or dirty tank water is most often caused by tannins—the natural compounds released when rainwater mixes with decaying leaves, pollen, and vegetation. On Waiheke, this becomes particularly problematic during pōhutukawa flowering season, when the stunning red stamens shed heavily across rooftops. As beautiful as they are, they are one of the biggest culprits behind tea-coloured water, bitter tastes, unpleasant odours, and staining on spas, sinks, and toilets. Left untreated, tannin-rich water can cause residual damage to washing machines, clogging internal parts and leaving clothes less clean with every wash. Potentially, it’s the kind of slow, hidden deterioration that can lead to costly repairs—and it’s certainly not something you want your family or summer guests to experience. Your trusted solutions:   Option 1:   Book a Tank Clean & Drain with a 10,000L water refill.  Often with tannin polluted tanks the dirty water is too hard to treat. Instead we vacuum sludge & residue from the bottom of your tank, draining all the bad water then deliver 10,000 litres of water to give you a fresh start. Option 2:  Install a Tannin Reduction Cartridge beside your sediment filter. The Purtec TR20MP2 Tannin Reduction Cartridge is designed specifically to remove tannins from your water. It works using a special ion-exchange resin that pulls out the tea-coloured stains and improves taste and smell. Because it targets tannins only, it’s best installed as part of a two or three-stage filtration system. This means: Sediment filter first — to remove dirt and debris so the tannin cartridge doesn’t clog early. Tannin cartridge next — to remove the colour. Carbon filter last — to polish the water and reduce any remaining taste or odour. Our local Tankman experts can assess your system and advise which option will work best for your Waiheke home. Depending on the quality of your tank water a combination may be needed to restore clean, safe, clear water. (09) 372 7270 www.tankman.co.nz Corner of 116 Ostend Road (next to Waiheke Workout)

Gulf News, 2 October 2025 Tankman creates solution to very Waiheke-specific problem. A frustrating reality on Waiheke is we often get hit with rough weather and power cuts, which mess with our water tank pumps and can leave us without running water. Tankman Waiheke co-director Marty Howard says he figured that was a solvable problem. And after a year and half of noodling, prototyping and testing created PumpPal - a water pump system with a backup battery that automatically kicks in when power is interrupted. Marty says he had always known it was an issue but didn't know the full impact it had on people until he and Duncan Styles bought Tankman from the previous owners a few years ago. "The problem struck me between the eyes as soon as I got on the job," he says. "You've got people climbing up ladders to get a bucket of water out the top of their tank, in the middle of a storm - just so they can tip it down the dunny." Hospitality businesses and schools must close because they have no running water and the toilets aren't working. In many island homes, similar problems occur, and they don't always end when the power comes back on. Marty says standard pumps are sensitive to power fluctuations. Often it's just a case of having to go turn the pump off and on to get water flowing again, "but sometimes the pump's damaged and doesn't come back on," he says. "It has an error or a meltdown and people need us to come around and do something to fix it. Sometimes the pump loses its prime, and we have to come and bleed the air out of the line if it has been off for too long and their system is configured a certain way." Marty says he originally trained as an electrical engineer, so he took on finding a solution to the problem as a side project. In his research he couldn't find a backup power system and pump unit out there that was right for Waiheke - so he decided to make one. "Through testing I quickly concluded that the normal pumps use too much power anyway. The bog-standard pumps just go on full bore or turn off, and if you're just running one tap you don't need that." However, Marty says, variable speed pumps which used to be too expensive for home systems have become more affordable. "These new kinds of variable speed pumps also use 40 to 70 percent less power - so that's off your power bill for a start. And that brings it in the range of being able to run it off some [onboard] power supply for a decent length of time." The final PumpPal model uses a battery pack that will keep water flowing for at least 24 hours without external power and automatically switches to battery power within a millisecond of a power cut. "Obviously, if there's a power cut, you're probably not going to be running the washing machine or dishwasher, but you'll probably want to have showers, get a drink, wash your hands and so on," he says. "And with careful water use, it will last a lot longer." Marty says hospitality businesses and schools can also benefit from his invention, just with a bigger battery. For further information, sales and trade enquiries phone Marty on +64 9 372 7270 www.tankman.co.nz or pop into the Tankman showroom - 116 Ostend Road, Waiheke Island. #tankmanwaiheke #waterpump #tankman #offrgridliving #waihekewater

Waiheke Power Outage? No Problem! Get continuous water with PUMPPAL Waiheke power outage? No problem! Keep your water on during power cuts When mains power fails, PumpPal automatically runs your pump from battery, keeping taps flowing and toilets flushing. seamlessly integrates with the Grundfos SCALA2 booster pump. Automatic switchover Outage detected → battery on. Power returns → battery recharges. Up to 24 hours runtime* Conservative household use during extended outages. Drop‑in cabinet Weather‑resistant enclosure suitable for outdoor or under‑house placement. Enquire Now PumpPal gives you a dependable off-grid water supply. Call us - 09 372 7270 or enquire below (Trade/Plumber enquiries also welcome) First name Last name Mobile Number Email* Interested In General Question How can we help you?* Submit New Product PUMPPAL Full Package Price $2,995.00 Battery Grundfos Pump SCALA2 3-45 Price $1,884.00 PUMPPAL without SCALA2 \ (already have my SCALA2 V2 Pump) Note: Using with other pumps will damage equipment $1,395 PUMPPAL Cover Water proof, Rodent and Dust Proof Cover $279

We make rainwater safe to drink - Tank checks / cleans and UV + Filtration Servicing. ----------------------------------- Big Pohutukawa Season Ruins Waiheke Tank Water ----------------------------------- Brown, dirty tank water is often caused by tannins which are the result of water sitting in decaying vegetation and leaves. This is common in roof collected rainwater when big trees are nearby or in flower. Tannins will give your water a bitter taste and have an unpleasant odour, while the tea-coloured water will often leave stains on items like spas, sinks, and toilet bowls. Not something you would want, nor a guest to experience! Depending on the state of your tank water you may need option 1, option 2 or both! OPTION 1: Book a Tank Clean & Drain with a 10,000 litre fill $890 OPTION 2: Book installation of Tannin Filter Cartridge $890 (after you existing sediment house filter Book Now Puretec Tannin Removal Cartridge View Cartridge Recharge Instructions Autumn Special We are selling the tannin filter with its LARGE (Half Metre) cartridge housing for $695 plus $195 for a "standard" Waiheke central installation. The Purtec TR20MP2 cartridge removes tannin through the use of selective ion exchange resin. The TR Series cartridge is specifically designed to reduce tannin/organics only, so it is best used in conjunction with a two or three stage filtration system. The unit is installed in the water line after your filters. It is recommended to have sediment pre-filtration to avoid premature blocking of the TR Series cartridge, and carbon post-filtration to further reduce taste & odour. The TR Series cartridge will be regenerated prior to use using salts, and whenever the colour in the water starts to return and is suited to lower tannin issues in rainwater. Book Now Or Call 093727270 or Marco direct on 0273763041 Email waiheke@tankman.co.nz Showroom Now Open Saturdays 9am-2pm at 116 Ostend Rd Or Call 093727270 or Marco direct on 0273763041 Email waiheke@tankman.co.nz Showroom Now Open Saturdays 9am-2pm at 116 Ostend Rd

Choose and schedule your water system service from TankMan - Tank & Pump on Waiheke Island. Waiheke's Rainwater System Experts.