Rainwater tanks

If you want to use the water from your rainwater tank in your toilets or washing machine, you need to:

What you need to do

Rainwater tanks are large, very heavy when full and can cause harm if they aren’t installed or maintained correctly.

A number of regulations are in place to help ensure your tank is safe and suitable.

Find out more

  • Contact your local council to see if they have any local requirements you must comply with. 
  • Tanks that can store a maximum of 10,000 litres of water don't normally need council approval. However, you must comply with a number of conditions. For the latest information about exempt and complying development, visit NSW Planning & Infrastructure to see the latest copy of the NSW Housing Code.

It's important to position the tank in the right spot.

Check the Department of Planning and Infrastructure's guidelines to see where you can install the tank.

You can't install a tank over our pipes or structures without our approval. Apply for approval at Sydney Water Tap in™.

Check with NSW Fair Trading to see if the plumbing work needs to be inspected or call them for more information.

If you want to use the water from your rainwater tank in your toilet or washing machine, you must:

Children watering the garden with rainwater using a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle

Rainwater tanks save drinking water, but they must be installed by a licensed plumber.