Consideration can also be given to placing tanks above
or below the ground surface.
Health and environmental concerns
relating to water tanks
Toowoomba Regional Council supports rainwater
harvesting. However, Council does not suggest that tank
water replace an available town water supply for drinking
purposes because there is no guarantee that every resident
installs, cleans and maintains rainwater tanks correctly to
ensure safe drinking water.
Consideration also needs to be given to health and
environmental issues relating to water tank usage.
• Un-disinfected tank water may contain micro
organisms that may cause illness
• Microbial contamination from bird faeces for example,
can pollute your tank water
• Contaminants from roof materials in particular, lead,
urban traffic, industry and garden activities may pollute
your tank water
• Physical contamination can result from domestic
chimney ash, dust, traffic pollutants, leaves and debris
which collect in a tank without safeguards
• Inferior quality water pumps can be a noise nuisance
• Unscreened water tanks can breed mosquitoes
• Rainwater is normally lower in minerals and pH and
some reports suggest that continued drinking of
rainwater is not safe for child health
• Rainwater stored in smaller new concrete tanks can be
alkaline which is not suitable for plants such as Azaleas
and Camellias
• For underground tanks in particular, there is a risk
of contamination from surface run-off if the access
point is not sealed or is not set sufficiently high above
ground level.
What to consider when choosing a tank
Planning
• The intended use of rainwater
• Volume of water needed for these purposes
• The amount of space available for the tank
• Best roof section for catching the water
The most common materials chosen
• Polyethylene
• Concrete
• Steel
• Fibreglass
Tanks made of any of these materials are suitable
providing they are of food grade standard complying with
AS 2070 or AS/NZ 4020. There are many varied designs
available to suit your particular needs.
Check the building codes and plumbing regulations
applying to your local area. There are special
requirements in relation to proximity to septic tanks,
depth of excavation, and engineering design applying
to underground or semi-submerged rainwater and
stormwater recovery tanks.
Benefits of a rainwater tank
• Provides you with free water
• Rainwater is not subject to Toowoomba Regional Council’s
water restrictions, however filling or topping up your tank
with town water may constitute an offence
• It supplements the town water supply
• It reduces your own town water use which means you can
save on your water bills
• You can connect your rainwater tank to an outside tap,
toilet cistern and washing machine as a means of saving
town water
• You can water your garden and wash your car in low
rainfall periods and during water restrictions
• It can add real estate value to your home
• It provides a supply of water that has not been
Rainfall in Queensland is
chemically treated
• If you have a swimming pool, you can top it up using highly variable.
your rainwater
• Rainwater is soft water and lathers easily, saving on
soap and detergent
We must find ways of reducing
• Rainwater tanks provide an emergency water supply e.g. town water use and reducing
for fire fighting our costs.
• It reduces and slows stormwater runoff from your roof
• Reduces flooding by providing temporary storage
for rainwater One way of doing this is by
• It contributes to a sustainable community and helps installing a water tank.
postpone the need for new town water supply infrastructure
• You may be eligible for a Council rebate if you install a
new rainwater tank on your existing dwelling and have
it connected to an internal toilet. Check with Council’s
Waterwise office for details
Want to know more?
Phone Toowoomba Regional Council’s
WaterWise office on 07 4688 6253
or your Local TRC Service Centre
PP - 296 11592
TOOWOOMBA
REGIONAL
COUNCIL
www.toowoombaRC.qld.gov.au
Published by Toowoomba Regional Council 6/2008
Tank water safeguards
rain heads
These must be installed on your down pipes just below the
gutter. Self cleaning types are highly recommended.
first flush diverter
Diverts the first 20-30 litres of water coming from your
roof, taking pollutants and debris away with it.
filters
Filters can provide additional protection against micro-
organisms and chemicals. There are various types of filters
that can protect against different contaminants. Filters
should be replaced regularly.
disinfection
If you intend using rainwater for drinking, it should
be disinfected. Boiling is the most traditional form.
Ultra Violet (UV) under-bench disinfection systems are
becoming popular. However, organic matter can coat the
UV light and affect its operation. Laboratory testing of
tank water is available for a fee. Contact TRC Laboratory
Services, Mt Kynoch, ph. 4688 6270.
backflow prevention device
Where rainwater is connected to the same
household plumbing that is used for town
water supply, an approved backflow
prevention device must be installed.
This is to prevent accidental flow of
untreated rainwater into the town
water reticulation system.
mosquito and insect screens
Screens are required to
be fitted to all inlets and
outlets. The screen gauze
must be a diameter not
coarser than 1mm
aperture mesh.
roof gutter screens
To prevent leaf litter and other debris from blocking
screens and collecting in the tank it is recommended that
gutter guards be used.
noise control
To avoid water pump noise you can install a tank raised
on a stand to allow a gravity feed delivery system but a
water pump is usually necessary. To minimize noise ensure
the pump is designed with a minimum sound power rating
and is housed and sited to minimize environmental noise
impact. Submersible bore pump pressure systems are
very quiet and can be used for tanks. This may eliminate
the need for pump housing.
overflow
Tank overflow pipes should be vermin proof and discharge
in accordance with Council requirements.
drain valve
A tank should have a drain valve for cleaning purposes
or some other method of cleaning the tank floor. This
discharge must be in accordance with Council requirements.
extraction point
The extraction point should be above the tank floor to
ensure that water is of good quality. The bottom water
zone is where particles settle and is anaerobic and often
contains more micro-organisms.
roofing materials
Most modern roofing materials are safe for rainwater
collection but check on your roofing finish. For example,
some paints, particularly those on older houses, can
contain lead which may leach into the tank water.
Maintenance and cleaning
Cleaning and maintenance of your tank is important.
The following maintenance and cleaning schedule
checklist is suggested.
3at least every 3-6 months
gutters: Inspect and clean making sure that they are
free from leaf materials and other debris. If large amounts
are found, then inspection and cleaning should be done
more frequently, especially after heavy rainstorms. Gutters
must be graded evenly to downpipes. Low spots where
water accumulates not only deteriorate gutters but also
contaminates the water.
roof: Check and clear away accumulated debris
including leaf and other plant materials. Overhanging
branches should be pruned back. TV antennas attract
birds and therefore should not be above the roof area
that contributes water to your tank due to bird faeces
contamination.
tank Inlets, mosquito/insect proofing and leaf
filters: Check, clean and repair if necessary.
tank and tank roof: Check structural soundness of
tank including the roof and access cover. Holes and gaps
should be repaired.
pipework: Check for structural soundness. Make sure
that drains are not blocked.
internal inspection: Check for evidence of access
by animals, birds or insects including the presence of
mosquito larvae. Find and close points of access. Also
check for evidence of algal growth. Find and close all
points of light entry.
First flush devices, rain heads and filters:
Check and clean and repair or replace if required. First
flush devices need to be cleaned regularly to function well.
pump and pressure unit: Keep pumps clean and
ventilated. Protect from weather and corrosion. A good
quality pump should give many years of trouble free
service. Insist on a quality pump unit and pressure unit.
Cheap units will be costly and disappointing in the long
term.
3every 2-3 years
Inside of tank: Check for presence of accumulated
sludge and clean out if necessary. Remember not to
discharge dirty water into a stormwater drain or onto
a road. Run the water onto your lawn. Small amounts
of sludge can be buried in your garden. Large amounts
should be taken to the Toowoomba Waste Management
Centre. Alternatively, you can locate a professional tank
cleaning company through the Yellow Pages.
Certain tanks may have specific maintenance
considerations. For example, it is important not to damage
the protective internal polymer coating on certain tanks.
Check with the manufacturer for your tank’s maintenance
requirements.