Brought to you by Great Northern Tanks — Australia’s trusted experts in compliant, durable, and efficient water storage solutions.
As Australia continues to face water scarcity and stricter sustainability targets, governments are tightening regulations around water storage, usage, and system installation. Whether you’re a homeowner installing a rainwater tank or a rural property owner upgrading existing infrastructure, understanding these water efficiency standards in Australia is crucial to staying compliant — and saving money.
In this guide, Great Northern Tanks explains how national and state-level rainwater compliance and tank installation regulations affect property owners, what to check before installing, and how to future-proof your investment.
Australia is one of the driest continents on Earth, with highly variable rainfall and frequent droughts. As urban populations grow and climate patterns shift, national water efficiency standards ensure that every litre of collected or supplied water is used responsibly.
These standards are designed to:
For tank owners, these standards define how systems must be built, installed, and maintained — ensuring your investment is safe, compliant, and efficient for decades to come.
At the national level, water use and efficiency are governed by the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme, introduced under the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005.
While WELS primarily applies to appliances (like taps, toilets, and showerheads), it also influences rainwater harvesting systems and tank installation components.
Here’s what it means for tank owners:
For example, when connecting a rainwater tank to indoor fixtures (toilets, laundry, or irrigation systems), the installer must use WELS-compliant fittings and ensure that cross-contamination prevention systems (like backflow devices) are installed to code.
Although the WELS scheme sets a federal benchmark, tank installation regulations vary slightly across states and territories. Below is a summary of the most relevant requirements for residential and rural property owners:
Tip from Great Northern Tanks: Always confirm with your local council or state water authority before installation. Regulations can differ between urban and rural zones, particularly for overflow discharge, stormwater connections, and pump operation.
Installing a tank isn’t just about collecting rainwater — it’s about doing it safely, efficiently, and legally. Proper rainwater compliance involves three main areas:
At Great Northern Tanks, our systems are built and installed with Australian Standard certification, ensuring every tank meets or exceeds compliance benchmarks for structural integrity and water safety.
Every quality water tank manufacturer in Australia must adhere to key standards governing design, safety, and performance. For example:
By choosing durable water tanks from Great Northern Tanks, property owners can rest assured that their systems are built to meet — and often exceed — these strict requirements.
Following water efficiency and installation regulations does more than avoid fines — it safeguards your water tank investment. Properly certified tanks offer:
Ignoring compliance, on the other hand, can result in failed inspections, reduced warranty coverage, or costly retrofits later on.
With decades of experience designing, manufacturing, and installing Australian-compliant water tanks, Great Northern Tanks understands every layer of regulation — from local council requirements to national safety codes.
We provide:
Whether you’re installing your first rainwater tank or upgrading an older system, we’ll help you meet every regulation — and exceed every expectation.
Ensure your next installation meets every water efficiency standard and regulation across Australia. Talk to our team of experts for advice, quotes, and certified installation support.
📍 Visit us: https://greatnortherntanks.com.au/contact-us/
📞 Call us: 1800 783 358
✉️ Email: sales@greatnortherntanks.com.au
🏢 Toowoomba Office: 66 Carrington Rd, Torrington QLD 4350 — Call: 07 4566 2900
🏢 Livingstone NT Office: 2658 Stuart Highway, Livingstone NT 0822
Great Northern Tanks — engineered for compliance, built for Australia.
