Rainwater
Rainwater is a natural and free source of fresh water. If you live in the country, rainwater may already be a part of your water supply.
Rainwater gives you a personal supply of water to use during water restrictions and can help to reduce your water bills.
Choosing a rainwater tank
The best tank for you will depend on your budget, the size of the tank and your use of the rainwater.
Using rainwater
It's easy to use rainwater on your garden with the right connections for your hoses. If your tank is lower than where you want to water, you'll also need to connect a pump.
If you want to use rainwater indoors, you'll need a plumber to connect the rainwater into your house.
Health and safety
In urban areas it may not be best to drink rainwater because of pollution risks. If you're in a rural area, you may only need to install a water filter. Check the health and safety requirements with your local council.
If you live in an older home with lead flashing on the roof, it can be dangerous to drink rainwater collected from the roof.
See Health Guidance on use of rainwater tanks
Rainwater tank size (volume)
If you want to use only rainwater and no tap water, you will probably need to be able to store between 50,000 and 100,000 litres depending on where you live, your rainfall patterns and how much water you use.
Research the amount of rainfall to expect in your area. The size of your roof will affect how much rain you can collect.
If you're only planning to use the water on your garden, you can still save a lot of tap water with a smaller tank.
Tank types and positions
Rainwater tanks are made from plastic, concrete, galvanised steel or coated steel.
The best spot for your tanks will depend on how you already use the area and the set up of your gutters and downpipes.
Tanks can be positioned next to your home, as storage walls (a line of rectangular tanks) or underground to save space.
Bladders are soft-sided water tanks that can be installed under the floor or under a deck.
Tank maintenance
A rainwater tank requires regular maintenance. However, you can reduce maintenance by keeping gutters clean and using a first-flush diverter to capture the first flow of rainwater from your roof before it enters the tank. Diverters help to reduce the amount of dust and other contaminants like bird droppings.
More information
See these resources about rainwater:
Rebates & assistance
As a home owner, renter or landlord, you could be eligible for financial assistance and home assessments to help you start saving energy and water sooner.
Find out about government rebates and assistance.
Why do it?
- Reduce your water bills
- Water your garden during water restrictions
- Increase the value of your home
- Reduce your reliance on purified and transported water
- Help protect the remaining fresh water flows in our river systems
Did you know?
A tap leaking at the rate of one drip a second could waste more than 12,000 litres of water a year.
What can I do?
Take Action
Page last modified: 20 Aug 2009