From March this year, Waikato District Council will force all new buildings, both residential and commercial in Raglan to install rain tanks. The rain tanks will most likely end up as redundant as there is no requirement to use the water collected in the tanks and the cost of connecting a tank to high pressure plumbing would be substantial.
Over 70 Waikato builders, plumbers and engineers recently attended a Waikato District Council workshop to hear about the new requirements under the Water Supply bylaw 2009.
The bylaw, enforced from March 2010, requires all new premises in the Waikato District to have a rain tank, and all new connections to a Council water supply to have a water meter.
Water & Facilities General Manager, Richard Bax, said the Water Supply bylaw was a move by Waikato District Council to create more sustainable water supplies, and encourage storing rainwater for non-drinking use.
“Rain tanks are an important tool for reducing water use. In most homes, toilet flushing and clothes washing is around 50 percent of the total water used.
“By plumbing the rain tank to the toilet and laundry, rain water can replace nearly half of a home’s annual water consumption,” he said.
Under the bylaw, a rain tank will be required for all new premises in the Waikato District that connect to a Waikato District Council water supply, have a floor area of at least 30m2, and have facilities such as a toilet or laundry that the roof water could be used for.
All new connections to a Waikato District Council water supply will have a water meter. The water will be billed based on the amount used.
“The bylaw requirements apply to all new premises, which includes commercial properties. Just like residential properties, there is no requirement to connect the rain tank to the toilets or laundry, but not using the rainwater sends potential savings down the drain,” Mr Bax said.
Press release: Waikato District