Australian homes and businesses are helping to solve Australia’s freshwater shortage, one rooftop at a time! You’ve probably already heard how much of a different rooftop solar Is making to Australia’s energy security. But there’s another way that rooftops are providing: filling water tanks with rainwater that flows down our gutters and would otherwise end up wasted as we continue to rely on reservoirs that are increasingly shallower as the years go by. And with global warming already impacting our climate, that’s not a problem that’s likely to go away soon!

So, how do rainwater tanks improve the future of Australian water? Read on!

Australian homes and businesses are helping to solve Australia’s freshwater shortage, one rooftop at a time! You’ve probably already heard how much of a different rooftop solar Is making to Australia’s energy security. But there’s another way that rooftops are providing: filling water tanks with rainwater that flows down our gutters and would otherwise end up wasted as we continue to rely on reservoirs that are increasingly shallower as the years go by. And with global warming already impacting our climate, that’s not a problem that’s likely to go away soon!

So, how do rainwater tanks improve the future of Australian water? Read on!

Depending on how large your tank size and your roof size are, and the amount of rainfall in your area, you could massively decrease your reliance on mains water supply. If everyone had a water tank in their backyard, our reservoirs would be much fuller. If we all used our rainwater effectively, it’d be a lot of drops in a pond of better water management!

“But, aren’t water tanks huge things you see out in country towns? How could I fit that in my backyard?” you may be wondering. Well, the good news is: your water tank can probably be much smaller than you think. Those huge rural water tanks are often meeting all of the water needs of water-intensive farms. Assuming that your water tank is your sole source of water (and it certainly doesn’t need to be – this is a hypothetical) your water tank should be large enough to hold a month’s supply of rainwater. So check your water bill – if your household normally uses two thousand litres of water a week, then an 8000 litre tank will fit the bill. And if you’re using your tank water as a secondary source, size isn’t as important a consideration as you might think – after all, a smaller water tank is better than no water tank! Go with what suits your home.

Replacing mains water with rainwater

The average Aussie consumes 340 litres of water per day! And you’re only drinking a fraction of that: major culprits include showers, washing dishes or using the dishwasher, using your laundry machine – and even washing your car with a hose (which consumes a whopping 200-500 litres of water). The mains water you’re using in your house is all treated for safe drinking, but you only actually drink a tiny fraction of the water that you use; much of your other water needs could be met by sending tank water to your washing machine, using it to wash the car and for your shower. Talk to a licensed plumber about what’s involved – it’s probably easier than you think!

Your drinking water needs are actually quite minimal, but if you do want to be able to drink tank water, you’ll need to do a few things to make sure it’s potable. You’ll need a filtration system; you’ll want to get a licensed plumber to hook it up to your plumbing (so you don’t have to go to the backyard every time you want a drink!) and (especially in urban areas) you’ll want to get your water tested for contaminants to make sure that it’s not overly polluted by traffic or industry.

So, if you want to be part of Australia’s future water security for generations to come, a water tank is a great place to start!