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Rainwater Collection

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This 4,420 litres (1,000 gallons) rain tank was installed at the Sustainable Living Centre. It supplies enough water for an average family for non-drinking outlets i.e. toilets, laundry, and water for the garden.

The Centre also has a rainwater collection barrel. This is a smaller size collection device which is a good option if you have limited space and just want to collect water to use in the garden. It is also significantly cheaper than the full-size rainwater collection tank.
 
Waitakere City Council is offering a rebate of up to $500 for people installing tanks to existing or new homes for garden, laundry and toilet use.

Why Use Rainwater?

  • Using rainwater helps you reduce your water rates by around $200 per year for an average home.
  • It also reduces demand for the city's water supply, meaning less money paid by ratepayers in the long run on upgrading the pipe system, AND
  • It can also reduce flooding and erosion by providing temporary storage for rainwater which means less pollution of our waterways and less wet weather sewage overflows.

Cost

The average cost to buy, install and plumb in a rainwater tank and pump for use in the laundry, toilet and garden with a pump is approximately $2,800 - $3,500. So a rebate of $500 would bring this down to around $2,300 - $3,000, all installed.
Click here to take advantage of the rebate up to $500
 
What can I use rainwater for? Rainwater can supply up to 65% of your household's water. You can use it for:

  • supplying the laundry and toilet
  • watering the garden and lawn
  • washing vehicles

But don't drink it... In Waitakere City, you are only permitted to connect your rainwater supply to NON-POTABLE outlets (i.e. toilet, laundry and garden). Your kitchen and bathroom water must still come from mains supplies.
 
If you are interested in having a rainwater collection tank installed, check under 'tank manufacturers' in the yellow pages.