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Minimising risks to people and property
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Australia is a nation of urban dwellers and more than 85% of the population lives in cities, towns, and suburbs. This is not likely to change, and urban development increases the number of surfaces covered by water-resistant materials such as asphalt, concrete, brick, stone, and rooftops.
These surfaces do not allow water to pass through them and the increased volume of stormwater runoff in heavy rain events can overwhelm the existing drainage system.
A rainwater tanks is an effective buffer as the tank needs to be full before it discharges overflow into the stormwater system. Household water tanks in an urban area would be of different shapes and sizes, and while some might be full, others would be empty. The net effect would be a much more progressive discharge of water into the stormwater system that would reduce the potential for flooding and minimise the risks to people and property.
In short, the rainwater harvesting efforts of multiple household’s ripple outwards to:
+ reduce the need for new dams or desalination plants.
+ protect remaining environmental flows in rivers.
+ reduce infrastructure operating costs, and,
+ decrease stormwater runoff, thereby helping to reduce local flooding and scouring of creeks.