Upcoming Rainwater Harvesting Event

About Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater Harvesting is a membership category of Irrigation Australia and is designed for members engaged in rainwater harvesting activities including the supply of products and advice and includes the previous members of the Rainwater Harvesting Association of Australia.

Rainwater Harvesting is rainwater captured from a roof into a container. Rainwater Harvesting has a triple benefit in urban areas. Rainwater harvesting reduces the costs of water infrastructure across the urban system. Rainwater harvesting with water efficient appliances reduces household expenditure on water. Rainwater harvesting reduces stormwater management costs. Rainwater Harvesting is the third largest source of water in Australia, after surface water (dams) and groundwater.

Rainwater Harvesting provides an independent estimate of 274 billion litres annually. According to the ABS one in four, or 26% of Australian houses have a rainwater tank. The ABS estimate rainwater provides 177 billion litres, or 9% of residential water in Australia worth $540 million. Outside of urban areas rainwater provides 63% of residential water or 109 billion litres. Rainwater harvesting is the first and most efficient element of an integrated water management system. Because rainwater falls on roofs it is a local supply that can be collected where it is needed. Because rainwater Is usually high quality it can meet significant local water demand until it runs out. Capturing rainwater reduces the negative impacts of urban water on natural catchments.

Coombes and Smit estimated savings from rainwater harvesting and water efficient appliances in 2016 in Sydney alone of 90 billion litres annually, equivalent to the entire capacity of the Sydney $1.8B desalination plant. Rainwater Harvesting is the most accessible source of water in Australia. All urban areas continue to enjoy rainfall even in a drought, however, rainwater harvesting continues to provide water long after natural catchments become too dry for stream runoff. Desalinated water is not dependent on natural rainfall but it does rely on an electricity network, water distribution system and high levels of public expenditure.

Rainwater Tanks at Risk of Being Lost

Planning SA are removing the compulsory requirement for rainwater tanks to be a part of new homes

Sustainable Buildings Save Billons

An Alternative Water Strategy for Sydney

Care and Maintenance for your Rainwater Tank

One of the benefits of a rainwater tank is that it requires little maintenance.

Media Release May 21

Rainwater Tanks and Mosquitoes, are we missing something?

Adelaide Speaks On Rainwater Harvesting

Adelaide residents have overwhelmingly supported compulsory rainwater tanks on new developments.

Rainwater Harvesting News

Little Stringybark Creek and the Health of Urban Waterways Snapshot

Little Stringybark Creek, located 37 km from Melbourne, has an urban catchment of approximately 300 ha at its headwaters and a total catchment of about ...

Preparing your Rainwater Harvesting System for Summer

While the southern states are still enjoying their winter, Queenslanders are already starting to see the first signs of spring. Before the heat returns it ...

Costs and Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting in Australia – A Whole Systems Perspective

Michael Smit, Kingspan Water and Energy Rainwater harvesting would appear to be an efficient solution providing suitable water quality for many household uses[1] and stormwater ...

Sustainable Buildings Save Billions – An Alternative Water Strategy for Sydney

By Michael Smit, Rainwater Harvesting Australia. Kingspan Water & Energy and Urban Water Cycle Solutions have proposed a alternative solution for meeting the water challenges ...

Rainwater Harvesting Australia – Chairman Article

RAINWATER HARVESTING AUSTRALIA: FORGING AHEAD Rainwater Harvesting is becoming increasingly prevalent in Australia. In fact, the ABS tell us more than one in four Australian ...

Blueprint for Urban Water Management

Healthy Land and Water and Water by Design have released a report on Queensland Planning Policy Water Quality State Interest – A Blueprint for Improving ...

Rainwater Harvesting Training

Irrigation Australia as a registered training organisation (RTO) runs a number of nationally accredited training across Australia including Certificate III in Irrigation. Irrigation Australia will be running a number of Rainwater Harvesting training, workshops and events in the next period.

Irrigation Australia Membership - Rainwater Harvesting Category

Support Sustainable Water Use in Australia
Join Irrigation Australia and support Rainwater Harvesting in Australia.
Support 5.1 Million Rainwater Tank Owners
Our goal is to see all suitable houses and rural blocks with a rainwater tank installed
Maintain Standards & Guidelines
Ensure that every rainwater tank supplied & installed meets minimum industry standards.

Our Rainwater Harvesting Members

See our videos on Rainwater Harvesting

Contact Irrigation Australia about Rainwater Harvesting