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South Australian building rules What size rainwater tank should be installed? Plumbing and installation Rainwater tank and plumbing rebate South Australian building rules
South Australian building rules require that new dwellings, and some extensions or alterations, have an additional water supply to supplement mains water.
The most common way to meet the additional water supply requirement is to install plumbed minimum-sized rainwater tanks - other options include:
- a recycled water scheme
- connection to a community rainwater storage tank.
The additional water supply must be installed before a house or extension is occupied.
Building rules consent
Applications lodged for building rules consent for new houses, extensions and alterations must detail how water saving requirements are being met.
If rainwater tanks are being used, applications must include:
- the size of the tank
- location
- area of catchment
- plumbing details for installation.
For more information about building rules consent see Getting approval to build.
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What size rainwater tank should be installed?
The rainwater tank should have a storage capacity not less than one kilolitre. This is additional to any other water storage tanks that might be required - eg tanks for bushfire fighting purposes.
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Plumbing and installation
The additional water supply must be plumbed to a toilet, a water heater or to all cold water outlets in the laundry of the home. The same rules apply to new extensions or alterations where the extension or alteration is greater than 50 square metres and includes a toilet, water heater or laundry cold water outlet.
To assist water quality, every rainwater tank must be fitted with:
- an overflow device
- a mosquito proof, non-degradable screen.
A licensed plumber must:
- install the piping system to deliver the rainwater to the water closet, water heater or cold water laundry outlets
- complete a certificate of compliance certifying that installation is in accordance with plumbing standards regulated by SA Water.
For more information phone SA Water on 1300 650 950.
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Rainwater tank and plumbing rebate
Information about government rebates for rainwater tanks and installation is provided on the SA Water website.
For more information phone the Water Rebates Hotline on 1800 130 952.
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More information
On this site
Submitting development applications
Other websites
Australian Building Codes Board
Greenbank Environmental
Building Advisory Notice - Mandatory plumbed rainwater tanks for Class 1 building - Planning SA
Contact
SA Water - phone 1300 650 950