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Rainwater tanks: Residential rebate program

The Rous County Council Rainwater Tank Rebate Program is available to eligible residential town water customers in the Rous region who wish to reduce their consumption of town water by installing a rainwater tank.

What do I need to know before deciding to purchase and install a new rainwater tank?

Program eligiblity

To be eligible for the program, the property where you rainwater tank has been installed needs to be connected to town water and be within the Rous bulk water supply area. This means, your property needs to be in the council areas of:

  • Ballina (excluding Wardell and Meerschaumvale);
  • Byron (excluding Mullumbimby);
  • Lismore (excluding Nimbin);
  • Richmond Valley (excluding Casino and land west of Coraki).

Guidelines have been developed in partnership with each of the four councils within the Rous bulk water supply area.

Am I eligible for a rebate?

To be eligible, the tank must meet the program Terms and Conditions including, but not limited to:

  • The rainwater tanks must be installed, completed and paid for between 01 July 2023 and 30 June 2026.
  • For new homes and major renovations, any tank volume or internal connection required by BASIX will not be eligible for a rebate. Tank volumes or internal connections not required by BASIX may be eligible.
  • The rainwater tank must have a minimum volume of 2,000 litres.
  • Properties that have previously received rebates from Rous may not be eligible.

Please ensure you read all of the program Terms and Conditions on the application form to ensure you are eligible.

How to apply for a rebate

Download the Rainwater Tank Rebate application form. Read all information carefully, fill in the application form fully and provide all requested information prior to sending to Rous.

If you are applying for the additional rebates related to connecting toilets or a washing machine, your plumber will need to complete a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) to accompany your application.

How much is the rebate?

Rous offers three levels of rebate, based in the first instance on the tank volume. Additional rebates are available if rainwater from the tank is supplied for flushing toilets and/or to the washing machine. See tables below for details of the rebates offered.

For rainwater tanks purchased and installed ON or AFTER 1 July 2023:

Rebate Level Tank Volume (litres) Rebate
1 2,000 to 4,499 $200
2 4,500 to 8,999 $800
3 9,000 or more $1,000
Plus If all toilets are connected to the rainwater tank $620
Plus If washing machine is connected to the rainwater tank $550

 

Need help?

Please contact us on (02) 6623 3800 or demand@rous.nsw.gov.au

For more information on how to choose a water tank to suit your needs, visit our partners at The Water Conservancy, Smart Approved WaterMark.

NSW Health provides advice on the use of water from rainwater tanks, water quality considerations and maintenance of tanks.  You can find further information on the NSW Health website..

Frequently asked questions

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