ABS Report on Rainwater Harvesting

Australian households used an estimated 156 billion litres of rainwater in 2013-14

The figures on this page come from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Water Account, Australia, 2013-14, released on 26 November 2015.

Although this is historical research, it provides a useful national snapshot of the contribution household rainwater tanks can make to Australia’s water supply.

What the ABS research found

The ABS produced an experimental estimate of household rainwater tank consumption for 2013-14. It found that:

Australian households used an estimated 156 gigalitres, or 156 billion litres, of water from rainwater tanks.
This was equivalent to approximately 8% of household water consumption.
Households outside capital cities used approximately 109 gigalitres, representing 69% of the estimated national rainwater tank consumption.

These experimental estimates were reported separately and were not included in the ABS physical water supply and use tables.

About the $507 million estimate

The accompanying Rainwater Harvesting Association of Australia media release, dated 1 December 2015, estimated that the 156 billion litres represented the equivalent of approximately $507 million in household water bills at the time.

The $507 million figure was an industry association assessment based on the ABS water-consumption data. It was not a household savings figure published directly by the ABS.

Actual savings from a rainwater tank vary according to rainfall, roof catchment area, tank capacity, household water use, local water prices, plumbing arrangements and operating costs. Fixed water-service charges may also continue to apply.

Why the research remains relevant

Rainwater tanks allow households to collect roof runoff and store it for suitable uses such as garden watering, toilet flushing and laundry, subject to the system design and applicable local requirements.

The finding that 69% of estimated household rainwater tank consumption occurred outside capital cities also highlights the importance of rainwater storage for regional and rural households.

The latest ABS Water Account notes that its average household water-use figures exclude self-extracted water, including rainwater tanks and bore water. The 2013-14 experimental estimate should therefore not be directly compared with current household water-use totals.