Rainwater tanks
The Rous Rainwater Tank Rebate Program is available to eligible residential town water customers who wish to reduce their consumption of town water by installing a rainwater tank.
What to know before installing a new rainwater tank
Program eligibility
To be eligible for the program, the property where your 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
- Byron (Mullumbimby now accepting applications)
- Lismore (excluding Nimbin)
- Richmond Valley (excluding Casino and land west of Coraki).
Rebate eligibility
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.
- If you’re applying for a tank rebate for internal connections, a plumber must complete page 2 of this form as part of your application.
- 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 |
Additional Internal connections Rebates
Please note a Certificate of Compliance from your plumber is required
| All internal toilets connected to rainwater | $620 | |
| Washing machine connected to rainwater | $550 |
Rainwater tank guidelines
Guidelines have been developed in partnership with each of the four councils within the Rous bulk water supply area.
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.
