Rainwater tanks

Rainwater tanks in a nutshell

Exciting and New! Smart WaterMark has developed Australia's first mobile rain tank calculator iSaveH2O - available as a free download from iTunes.

The application is designed to help people discover how much water they can save and what size rain tank they need, and can be used when out in the field, or at point of purchase / consultation.

Some considerations when buying and installing a rainwater tank are:

that the tank is made from materials able to withstand environmental conditions in the area and position you want to place it
Australian Standards approval marks are on materials that will come into contact with rainwater
to get the best return on investment make sure that the tank capacity is appropriate to the rainfall in your area
water from a properly installed and maintained rainwater system is normally safe for domestic use
water from a poorly installed and maintained system can cause contamination and become a health hazard
ladders and other access points - including trees, shrubs, timber and trellises - should not be left next to rainwater tanks, and secure childproof lids should be installed
check with the local council before installing a rainwater tank for any building or planning regulations that must be met
the tank should be installed by a licensed plumber to ensure that rainwater remains separate from the mains drinking water supply, and to make sure that any overflow from the tank is diverted to the stormwater drainage system
gutter guards or screen mesh will reduce the amount of debris entering the tank
outlet points will reduce or eliminate the build up of sludge
install insect screens on overflow pipes and insect proof lids and inspection ports
incorporate a first flush device

Standards

Find Australian Standards on:
'Rainwater tanks'

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Rainwater tanks in a nutshell

Recommended reading

Standards