Freshwater is essential to human existence, and to the functioning of the ecosystems that support us. Australia is the driest populated continent on earth and can yield only a limited amount of freshwater. The average annual rainfall in Australia of 469mm a year is well below the global average. Despite this, Australians are the greatest per capita consumers of water, using an average of 100,000L of freshwater per person each year. This figure increases tenfold if the water embodied in the food and products we consume is included.

Long part of the rural landscape, water tanks are the latest must-have for urban greenies. But will they really slake our thirst for water?

With water restrictions operating in many parts of Australia, people are looking at ways to save water or save their garden — or both. Rainwater tanks are one option (if you’re getting any rainfall). Recycling greywater is another logical option: after all, you don’t need drinking-quality water to water the garden or flush the toilet.

Water bills have increased considerably in Victoria. As the price of mains water goes up, there is an incentive for people to install more efficient water technology in their home. The ATA, with funding from the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre, has conducted a review of the economics of common water-saving technology: efficient shower heads, toilets, dishwashers, washing machines, rainwater tanks, greywater systems and recirculators. Report.

The Rainwater Harvesting Association of Australia (RHAA), formerly Australian Rainwater Industry Development group (ARID), is a not for profit organization (a company limited by guarantee) assisting manufacturers and other plumbing industry stakeholders in promoting the benefits of rainwater and reuse water, whilst also providing a sometimes different perspective on water sustainability issues to stakeholder groups and Governments.

This paper provides the first published post-installation analysis of retrofitted rainwater tanks and their effects on mains water consumption. The study aimed to determine the average mains water reductions achieved in households with recently installed rainwater tanks and compare this figure with wider community consumption. The social and cultural impacts of rainwater tank ownership were also explored to understand how rainwater is used and perceived.

Rainwater harvesting (also called roofwater harvesting) involves the collection, storage and distribution of rainwater from the roof, for use inside and outside the home or business. Australia is the driest continent on earth and in most rural communities rainwater is the only supply of water for human consumption. Australians have used rainwater for many years as their source of water for all requirements – drinking, cooking, bathing, laundry, toilet flushing through to watering the garden. This is also true for many other communities around the world. Nowadays, even when mains or reticulated water supplies are available to communities, many people choose to use rainwater that is collected from the roof and stored in tanks or other vessels to supply their water requirements. Rainwater is an ideal source for our water requirements and momentum behind rain harvesting is building.