Water is one of the most important natural resources on earth, along with oxygen. It helps human beings regulate their body temperature, maintain all bodily functions and carry out the daily activities that sustain life. Human beings and most other living creatures, cannot survive without water for more than a few days, depending on conditions in their environment.

The recent decline in availability of fresh water around the world is a big concern for governments. Climate change has altered rainfall patterns around the globe. Despite this, the average family’s water usage has been steadily increasing. Countries like Australia, which is already a relatively dry continent with periodic droughts and a rapidly increasing urban population, are particularly concerned about water shortages.

Apart from public campaigns which promote reducing water usage, and occasional water restrictions in drought-affected areas, local, state and Federal governments have undertaken to encourage the installation and use of rain collection systems in most homes and businesses in order to serve as supplementary or alternatives sources of water when dam levels are low.

Rainwater collection systems help households conserve rainfall that might otherwise have been washed into stormwater drains. Most systems are designed to collect rainwater from the roof after filtering out leaf matter and other pollutants, and funnel it into a designated tank or tanks which may or may not be connected to another filtering system (First Flush Diverters for example) and then to a pump before directing the water to various outlets: garden taps, toilet cisterns and washing machine connections. One major benefit of installing a rainwater collection system at home or in a business is that it helps to reduce water bills. Escalating water bills can put financial pressure onto families and businesses and divert funds away from other essentials such as education and health for families and ongoing costs for businesses.

Apart from reducing the cost of living or of running a business, installing a rainwater collection system in your home or business will allow you to contribute to saving the environment. Studies have shown that by reducing water usage by 30-50% in cities across the world will significantly reduce the possibility of water shortages in the future. In micro-economic terms, you will be able to freely water your gardens, wash cars and even fill swimming pools without fear of government restrictions or regulations regarding water use.

In order to benefit from collecting rainwater in tanks, it is advisable to choose the best products for your situation from quality suppliers who manufacture to Australian Standards, and also to use a licensed plumber to install the tank and pump, if necessary. Make sure that the manufacturers’ installation instructions are followed for both tanks and pumps to protect your warranty and to prolong the life of your rain harvesting assets .Because the initial outlay for rain harvesting systems can be quite expensive, try to choose suppliers who offer competitive prices for quality products as well as a good variety of dimensions and capacities which best suit your budget, your needs and your location.