An increasing number of Australians are installing rainwater collection systems to provide their own water supply. This may be out of necessity in a rural or remote area that has no municipal water supply. Or it may because on the ever-increasing cost of water and the desire to be more self-sufficient.

Unfortunately, recent weather patterns have made rainwater a scarce commodity, with many parts of the country receiving very low amounts of seasonal rain or enduring many months with no significant rainfall. This has led to numerous households with rainwater tanks as their only water source having to buy truckloads of town water at exorbitantly inflated prices.

Fortunately, it's possible to insure against these extended dry spells and make sure that you have enough water to sustain you. Here are two additions you can make to your home to ensure year-round water supplies.

1. Add a bore pump

Bore pumps are small electrical pumps that draw water up from underground aquifers. You'll first need to use a bore drilling contractor to ascertain whether you have an accessible aquifer underneath your land. This is done through a combination of physical exploration and the use of data that's been collected by state and federal governments.

To access the water you'll need to have a bore drilling company drill down to the level of the aquifer and then insert pipes to allow the water to be drawn to the surface. Generally, bore water isn't suitable for drinking, cooking or bathing but it's fine for use in the garden, flushing toilets and doing laundry. This can prove to be invaluable in saving your rainwater for consumption purposes.

2. Install another rainwater tank

As the saying goes, make hay while the sun shines. Many households will see their rainwater storage tanks go from virtually empty to overflowing within days if there's a period of heavy rainfall that follows a dry period. Instead of letting this excess water go to waste, it's an excellent strategy to have another backup storage tank installed.

Depending on the size of your existing tank, this could double or even triple your water storage capacity and ensure that your tanks don't run dry after long periods of no rainfall. Although this is a significant expense, it's likely to save you money in the long run because you won't need to buy truckloads of town water. You can also opt for a second-hand tank to help keep costs down.

Share