Facts

Enough rain falls on the roof of an average Sydney home each year to supply it with around 80% of its water needs.
With a combination of rainwater capture and the reuse of greywater we could be 100% self sufficient for water.
Average house roof area in Sydney is 220 sq.metres which has 264,000 litres of rain water falling on it each year. This is the equivalent of five domestic swimming pools every year that currently flow out to sea.
Sydney water catchments have a sustainable yield of 600gl per year. Our current consumption rate is 630gl per year. Our population is growing rapidly and there are no plans for any further dam infrastructure.
Domestic dwellings account for 69% of demand in the Sydney catchment. Yet little is done to make people responsible for their own consumption.
For a cost of around $1 per litre installed, you can have the rain water storage and reuse capacity you need to water gardens, fill pools, wash cars and flush toilets.
Greywater is the water that comes from our washing machines, showers and basins and if treated can be re-used for laundry, toilets, gardens and car washing
The average person uses 250 litres of potable mains water per day. An efficient person can reduce that to 150 litres per day or much less if some rain water or grey water is utilized.
Drip irrigation in your garden uses 60% of the water necessary with above ground sprinklers. Subsurface irrigation needs only 40% .
Around the House
- A garden tap, at half open uses 1000 litres of water per hour (lph.)
- A dripline 100 metres long will use 600 lph.
- A micro-sprayer in your garden will use up to 120 lph.
- Old style toilets use 15 litres per flush. While a dual flush system uses between 3 and 7 litres per flush.