Rainwater harvesting in large residential buildings in Australia

Australia is one of the driest inhabited continents, with highly variable rainfall. A growing urban population and frequent droughts in recent years have made water supply a major issue in Australia. A number of alternative water sources have received attention in Australia including rainwater harvesting, grey water reuse and wastewater recycling. Among these, rainwater harvesting has received the greatest attention as rainwater is fresh in nature and can be easily collected and used for non-potable purposes. However, many Australians still show a reluctance to adopt rainwater harvesting systems. Statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that about 47% of respondents say that the main reason for not installing a rainwater tank is the perceived 'higher cost' (ABS, 2011). Government authorities in Australia provide financial incentives to encourage home owners to install rainwater tanks. For example, Sydney Water Corporation in Australia offers a rainwater tank rebate of up to $1,500 (here $ is in Aus$) depending on the size of the tank installed and the type of water use.