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Tips for Maximising Water Savings

• Rainwater tank rebate program
• How rainwater tanks work
• Planning for a tank
• Sizes and types of rainwater tanks
• Installing a rainwater tank
• Tips for maximising water savings
• Maintaining a rainwater tank
• Water quality

Using rainwater appropriately (and in conjunction with water efficient devices like dual flush toilets, showerheads with at least a WELS 3-star rating¹, water efficient tap aerators and trigger nozzles) can save you money and help the environment by:

• saving valuable drinking water and reducing the demand on our water supply (saving water also reduces the chemicals and energy needed to treat and transport water to your home)
• reducing the amount of stormwater leaving your property and minimising flooding (using your rainwater for day-to-day purposes like toilet flushing helps create space in your tank for more water the next time it rains).

Using your rainwater tank

It's best to use the water in the tank on a regular basis so there is always storage capacity available in the tank when it rains. By connecting your tank to a toilet or washing machine, you will use your tank even on rainy days, which allows rainfall to re-fill the tank more often. By using the tank this way you will maximise the amount of water and money you save and reduce the amount of run-off from your roof to the stormwater system.

Roof Area

The size of the roof catchment area the tank is connected to will limit the amount of water you can collect. Your rainwater tank supplier can provide advice about the best location for your tank to maximise the area of the roof that will run-off to the tank.

Tank Size

The larger the tank, the more rainwater can be captured for use during dry periods. A minimum tank size of 3,000 litres is desirable. A larger tank will only be suitable when roof area and indoor connections are maximised.

¹The Australian Government, in collaboration with State and Territory governments, has introduced a Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme, which applies national mandatory water efficiency labelling and minimum performance standards to household water-using products.