Australia is one of the world’s driest populated continents. Yet we consume water at one of the highest rates on the planet. We love our lawns, we love our showers, and we love our gardens… but as water is such a scarce resource, it’s important we conserve it.
As as we continue to experience increasingly extreme weather, we can all expect tighter water restrictions. All the while, water costs are rising due to multiple factors involved in water catchment, processing, and distribution, as well as the ongoing maintenance of our water systems.
It’s making more and more sense for Australians to install rainwater tanks that ‘catch’ their water for use, instead of buying it from the grid. With the average home able to harvest around 100,000 litres of water each year from their own roof, the benefits of water tanks in Australia are making tank installation a staple feature in Aussie homes nation-wide.
If you’ve been thinking of installing a water tank in your Australian home, there are plenty of benefits. Let’s explore a few of them here.
The benefits of rainwater conservation
Despite rainwater being generally unsuitable for drinking and cooking (unless treated and filtered), it still provides a valuable resource to households and their gardens.
Flushing toilets, doing laundry, and watering gardens all use precious water that needs to be pumped from reservoirs, through our water system and into the home. But not if you have a water tank!
Here’s some of the biggest ways you’ll benefit from a water tank.
Shrinking water bills
The ABS has found that of the 1.7 million households that have installed a water tank, almost half (49%) of them did it to save on their water bill. Using ‘free’ water from the sky is certainly a better deal than buying it at an increasingly high rate from your local water provider.
It’s been reported that urban water bills are set to double in-line with energy bills because of population growth, climate change, and government reform, hitting more than $2500 a year by 2040 (which isn’t as far away as it sounds!).
Surely we have enough bill stress to deal with thanks to rising electricity, gas, and general costs of living. One less expensive bill can make a big difference!
Storm water system relief
Our water systems include a complex network of drains, tunnels and catchments. Each Victorian home is connected to the water network through its gutters and downpipes, which flow into residential drains and into the wider water network.
The system is designed to reduce the impact of flooding by carrying stormwater away from built-up areas to rivers, creeks, and the bay.
Unfortunately, the system isn’t perfect. During heavy rains, parts of Melbourne such as Richmond, South Melbourne, and other low-lying areas near creeks and rivers often flood, causing enormous damage to homes and businesses.
The more water we can safely catch and store during storms, the more likely we are to reduce flood damage across the city. Relieving pressure on public infrastructure can (hopefully) mean more spending from our local councils on other important community resources.
Less reservoirs and plants
The more water tanks taking the pressure off our water system, the less need for large water reservoirs, processing centres and expensive desalination plants. This means more savings that can be spent on hospitals, schools, and community programs. It also means less valuable land used for industrial purposes, and less industrial waste being produced.
Most water authorities in Australia recognise this benefit, and provide some sort of rebate for homeowners purchasing a water tank.
Greener gardens
With such a dry climate, it can be hard to maintain healthy green lawns and gardens in Australia. Especially during summer months, lawns suck up enormous amounts of water. Instead of using mains water on our gardens, rainwater is a cost-effective alternative many green thumbs are opting for.
Rainwater is also better for your plants too. It’s not chlorinated like tap water, nor does it have added flouride. Other mineral elements in tap water are much less concentrated in rainwater too, making plants less susceptible to chemical toxicity that too much tap water can sometimes cause.
Lastly, rainwater delivers nutritious nitrates to plants, making them green and healthy. And who doesn’t love a healthy garden?
Ok I’m sold. But will a water tank fit in my small yard?
Water tank design has come a long way since the big ugly metal ones that were around in the 1980s. They come in all shapes, colours, sizes, and configurations – they can fit into nearly any outdoor area.
Check out your options including slimline tanks, round tanks, and underground tanks at ASC Water tanks.
Where to get more information
Get in touch with the team at ASC Water Tanks for a chat about adding a water tank to your home. You may even be eligible for a Government grant in Victoria for installing a water tank connected to your toilet or laundry.
Call us today on 1300 229 606.
I want to make sure that I have plenty of water. It makes sense that having a water tank would be a good option for me! That way, I can ensure that I have a good amount of extra water just in case something happens.