Tips on Saving Rainwater

Rainwater capture has come a long way since the classic corrugated iron tank. Tanks are space-friendly in designer shapes, and the Australian government even offers up to $1500 rebates if you have one installed.
Above Ground Affordable for suburban areas, a slim polypropylene or polyethylene tank won’t rust and is UV resistant. Position on a reinforced concrete slab at least 100mm thick.
Hidden An underground tank is impact resistant and can be positioned away from the house. A bladder-type tank tucks under the house or deck, and avoids heat or light exposure.

Keeping Nasties Out
Keep roof catchments and gutters clear of debris and check after big storms, or every few weeks. Also check gutters are draining efficiently without pooling, which results in a mosquito breeding ground and eggs being washed into tanks. Chemicals Most Australian roofs are suitable to catch rainwater, except those painted in lead-based paint, acrylic paint or tar-based coatings as chemicals dissolve into the water.
Bugs and Twigs New tanks have tight-fitting covers to keep out insects and wildlife. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water so make sure the tank has a barrier or filtration mechanism.
Light and Bacteria When light penetrates water it promotes algal growth and evaporation. Tanks should also have backflow prevention so rainwater doesn’t contaminate the main water supply.

Saving water
Look for a tank that can hold a month’s supply of rainwater. To determine how much this is, check out your quarterly water bill to work out how much water you use, taking into account the rainfall in your area. As a rough guide, for every 1mm of rain, up to one litre of rainwater per square metre of the roof can be collected.
How much do you use? Old-style single-flush toilet 12 litres a flush Modern dual-flush toilet 3 or 6 litres a flush (half or full) Top-loading washing machine 170 litres a wash Front-loading washing machine 80 litres a wash Using the garden hose 20 litres a minute Swimming pool Up to 60,000 litres

Dollars for drops
Call your council and water supplier for information about rebates and regulations.
Nationally $500 1800 218 478 www.environment.gov.au
ACT - $1000 132 281 www.thinkwater.act.gov.au
NT - $500 (08) 8999 5511 www.nt.gov.au
NSW - $1500 1300 361 967 www.environment.nsw.gov.au
QLD - $1500 1800 243 585 www.nrw.qld.gov.au
TAS - $400 (03) 6238 2711 www.hobartcity.tas.gov.au
SA - $1000 1800 130 952 www.sawater.com.au
VIC - $1000 136 186 www.ourwater.vic.gov.au
WA - $600 1300 133 646 www.water.wa.gov.au