What components do you need?
For a basic rainwater tank set up, you will need:
You may also find the following useful:
You can collect rainwater from most roof types including pressed metal and clay tiles. Your roof, flashings and gutters must not contain lead or lead paint. This can dissolve and contaminate your water supply.
Gutters and downpipes should be properly sized and sloped to maximise rainwater collection.
Health considerations with rainwater tank use
If you are using water from a rainwater collection tank, you must ensure the quality of it is safe and fit for its intended use.
You can lessen health risks by:
Non-potable (non-drinkable) rainwater tank water should not be consumed unless there is a need for emergency supply. In this case, we recommend following Ministry of Health's HealthEd websiteguidelines.
Indoor water use
If you plan to use the water indoors, you will need a qualified, registered plumber to safely connect the rainwater tank to the internal plumbing of your property.
This is to ensure the protection of the public water supply through backflow prevention, as well as the quality of water supplied by the tank. Find out more about backflow prevention on the Watercare website.
Installation cost
A tank can cost from $200 for a basic rain barrel to around $3000 for a 3000-5000-litre tank, depending on the design and what it is made of. Consenting and installation costs are additional considerations.
Using a water meter on a rainwater tank
Watercare charge each household a fee for collecting and treating their wastewater. This fee covers your contribution to maintaining the wastewater network.You may need to get a water meter for your rainwater tank if you would like to: