Waverley Council > Environmental Services > Rainwater Tanks
Installing a Rainwater Tank in Waverley
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Recently we have received a big increase
in inquires from residents wanting to install rainwater tanks.
No doubt the recent drought has made us all think of ways to
reduce water usage and to stop wasting this precious resource.
If we get a 30mm fall of rain each roof actually collects about 3,600 litres of water - which just runs down the gutters and into the stormwater system. By installing a rainwater tank we can store this water which can then be used for most purposes, except for cooking and drinking.
Installing a rainwater tank will help the environment and will save you money. Utilising our water resources more efficiently means reducing the load on Sydney's water catchment at Warragamba, which actually only gets about half of Sydney's annual rainfall.
There's no need to put in a development application for the installation of a rainwater tank, as long as it complies with Council guidelines. As Sydney Water is offering, for a limited time, attractive rebates on the cost of installation of the tank now is a good time to give the installation of a rainwater tank your serious consideration.
What can we use rainwater for?
Clean tank water can be used for most purposes except for
cooking and drinking. Good uses for tank water would be watering garden
beds, lawns and pot plants, washing the car and topping up pools. With
correctly installed pipe work and the use of a pump, it is possible to use
tank water in the laundry.
Why do we need to Conserve Water?
Water is one of the world's most precious resources. Only
3% of the world's water supply is freshwater -of this, only 1% is accessible
for human consumption. Global water consumption has risen tenfold since
1900, and many parts of the world are now reaching the limits of their
supply. In Australia, the world's driest continent, an average person
consumes 360 litres of potable water each day within their homes.
Residential water use accounts for 59% of all water supplied by Sydney
Water.
Rainwater tanks have many advantages - no matter where you live. Even in urban areas where a reticulated service is available, rainwater tanks help conserve our water supply and reduce stormwater run-off.
| How much water is used in general household activities? | |
| Toilet flush | 12 Litres |
| Bath | 100 Litres |
| Shower (10 minutes) | 200 Litres |
| Dishwasher load | 50 Litres |
| Washing machine load | 150 Litres |
| Garden sprinkler per/hour | 1000 Litres |
| Brushing teeth with tap running | 5 Litres |
| Drinking, cooking, cleaning per person | 10 Litres |
| Hand basin per use | 5 Litres |
| Garden dripper per/hour | 4 Litres |
| Car washing with hose | 200 Litres |
| Hosing driveway | 100 Litres |
| Daily consumption per household | 900 Litres |
Types of tanks
Rainwater tanks are constructed from
a variety of different materials including: polyethylene, galvanised steel,
colorbond, concrete and fibreglass. To find out more information look under
'w' in the yellow pages for water tanks.
Details of the tanks
Before you buy a rainwater tank, it's
important to make a plan first so that you end up with a tank that best
suits your needs and situation. If you intend to use rainwater in your home
and garden, you need to install a tank with at least a 5,000 litre capacity.
However, your tank size will also depend on the constraints of your site.
Things to consider
- your budget
- a suitable location for the tank on your property
- area of your roof draining to the tank
- capacity, shape and material of the tank
- consideration of your neighbours
- Council's requirements
- installation requirements
- maintenance requirements
- a certificate of compliance for the tank confirming that it meets with Australian Standards AS/NZS 2179-1994 and AS2180-1986
- optional extras: a pressure pump, the ability to top up with drinking water, a back-flow prevention device and a first flush device
Application / Notification to Council – What to do?
Waverley Council does not require a
formal Development Application for rainwater tanks less than 10,000 litres,
so long as the rainwater tank:
- is designed to collect roof water only
- does not require excavation or filling of more than 1 metre from natural ground level to be installed
- does not exceed a height of 2.0 metres from ground level (including the stand for the tank)
- is located at least 450 mm from any property boundary
- has overflow directed into the existing stormwater system
- is maintained to prevent mosquito breeding and overflow
Mosquito Proofing
The tank must be mosquito proof to
prevent the breeding of mosquitos. This can be achieved by installing a
strainer with mosquito net in all openings including inlet and outlet pipes.
Noise associated with pumps
If the installation of a pump is
required, it should not cause noise disturbance to the neighbours and any
pump should be located away from the adjoining property or should be encased
in sound insulation material.
Rebates
Sydney Water is offering a rebate to
customers who install a rainwater tank. The rebate program extends for a
limited time and is based on the size of the tank and whether the rainwater
is 'plumbed' into the toilet or washing machine.
| Tank Size | Rebate |
| 2,000 - 3,999 litres |
$150 tank rebate - plus $150 if a toilet and/or washing machine is connected to the rainwater tank. |
| 4,000 - 6,999 litres |
$400 tank rebate - plus $150 if a toilet and/or washing machine is connected to the rainwater tank. |
| 7,000 + litres |
$500 tank rebate - plus $150 if a toilet and/or washing machine is connected to the rainwater tank. |
Check out the Sydney Water website for more details: www.sydneywater.com.au
