Watering the garden
The simplest setup, tank, tap and a small pump. Keeps the garden alive through restrictions and dry spells.
Rainwater Tank?
Installed & plumbed in.
Tanks, pumps, first-flush diverters and mains switching, installed and plumbed to your toilets, laundry and garden by licensed plumbers. Cut your water bill and keep the garden green through the dry spells. Across Wollongong & the Illawarra.
NSWLicensed & insured$0Call-out feeFixedUpfront pricing100%To code & backflow safe
*45-minute response during service hours (7am to 5pm) applies to genuine emergencies; tank installations are booked at a time that suits you.
Rainwater Tanks
Get a Tank Quote · 1300 707 059
Cut Your Water Bill. Tank Installed & Plumbed. $0 Call Out Fee
Fixed upfront pricing on tank, pump and plumbing. We handle the downpipes, the overflow and the connection to your home.
On the Tools
Tanks Plumbed Properly.
The same licensed crew, the same tidy finish, every Illawarra job.
What Are You After?
What People Use Tank Water For
From a garden tap to flushing every toilet in the house, tell us what you want the tank to do and we'll size it and plumb it properly.
Flushing toilets
Toilets use a big share of household water. Plumbing the tank to them with a mains switch cuts the bill every day.
Laundry
Cold-water supply to the washing machine from the tank, with automatic mains changeover when the tank runs low.
Drinking and kitchen
Possible with proper filtration and UV, we fit the treatment stages and connect it safely.
New home or renovation requirement
Many new builds and renovations require a tank for compliance. We install to the plans and provide the certification.
Replacing an old tank or pump
Failed pumps, cracked tanks and dodgy DIY plumbing replaced with a system that works and meets code.
Every Part of the System
Tank. Pump. Plumbing. Done Properly.
A tank is only as good as its plumbing. We handle the whole system so it fills, pumps and switches over without you thinking about it.
Tanks
Slimline, round and underdeck poly or steel tanks sized to your roof area and how you'll use the water.
Pumps & Mains Switching
Quiet pressure pumps with automatic changeover to mains when the tank runs low, you never notice the switch.
Downpipes & First-Flush
Downpipe diversion, leaf guards and first-flush diverters keep the water clean and the tank filling.
Backflow & Compliance
Approved backflow protection and correct labelling so tank water never mixes with mains supply.
Not sure what size tank suits your roof and your use? Ask us, honest advice, fixed quote.
Talk Tanks Now · 1300 707 059Straight Answer
Garden Only, or Plumbed to the House?
A garden tank is simple. Plumbing to the house saves far more water but needs to be done right. Here's the difference.
Garden and outdoor use Simplest, lowest cost
- Tank, tap and a small pump or gravity feed
- No mains connection or backflow device needed
- Perfect for gardens, car washing and pools top-ups
- Can be upgraded to house supply later
Plumbed to toilets and laundry Biggest saving
- Automatic mains changeover so you never run dry
- Backflow protection and compliant labelling
- Filtration to protect cisterns and washing machines
- Often required for new builds and major renovations
Compare Your Options
Garden, Toilets, Whole-House or Replace?
The four rainwater setups we plumb across Wollongong and the Illawarra, and what each one involves.
| Garden only | Toilets & laundry | Whole-house incl. drinking | Replace tank or pump | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbing needed | Downpipe, first-flush diverter, tap | Pump, mains switching device, backflow prevention, dedicated lines | All of that plus sediment, carbon and UV filtration | Like-for-like swap on the existing lines |
| Council approval | Usually exempt | Usually exempt if it meets the exempt development rules | Usually exempt; drinking supply is a health decision, not a planning one | No |
| Pump | No | Yes | Yes | If it's the pump that failed |
| Relative cost | $ plus the tank | $$$ plus the tank | $$$$ plus the tank | $ to $$ |
| Best for | Keeping the garden alive in a dry spell | Meeting BASIX on a new build or reno, and cutting the water bill | Acreage, or anyone who wants off the mains | Tanks that are sound but tired |
Bands are relative, not quotes. Anything connected to the house must have a backflow device and a mains switch to protect the Sydney Water supply.
Local Knowledge
Rainwater Tanks Across Wollongong & the Illawarra
The Illawarra is one of the wettest stretches of the NSW coast, which makes a tank pay for itself faster here than almost anywhere. The new estates at Calderwood, Tullimbar and Haywards Bay were mostly built with a BASIX tank already plumbed to the toilets and laundry, so our jobs there are pumps, switching devices and first-flush diverters that were never serviced. Older homes in Kiama Downs and along the coast are more often a new tank from scratch.
A tank plumbed into the house is a plumbing job, not a handyman job: the backflow device and the mains switching are what stop tank water reaching the street supply, and they're inspected. If you want to drink it, the filter page covers the UV and sediment stages; if the hot water is fed from the tank, pressure and sediment matter even more.
The same local crew does the roof plumbing, the tank and the pump, so nothing falls between trades.
Brands We Install
Tanks & Pumps That Last
Australian-made tanks and reliable pumps with local parts and warranty support.
Fixed Price. Nothing Hidden.
What's Included in a Tank Install
- Tank positioned on a prepared base and connected to your downpipes
- First-flush diverter, leaf guard and overflow to stormwater
- Pump with automatic mains changeover (for house supply)
- Plumbing to garden taps, toilets and laundry as chosen
- Backflow protection and compliance labelling
- Testing, commissioning and a walk-through of how it all works
No hourly rates, no surprises. See exactly how a quote is built.
Free water. Every time it rains.
How It Works
Installed in Four Easy Steps
1
Call or Book
Phone 1300 707 059. Tell us your roof area, the space you've got and what you want the water for.
2
Site Visit & Fixed Price
We check downpipes, levels and access, recommend a tank and pump, and give you the exact price.
3
Installation Day
Tank set, downpipes connected, pump and plumbing installed, usually in a day.
4
Commissioned & Explained
Tested, labelled and demonstrated, with the paperwork for compliance if needed.
Questions
Good to Know Before You Call
What size tank do I need?
It depends on your roof area, rainfall and what you'll use the water for. A garden-only tank might be 2,000 litres; supplying toilets and laundry usually means 3,000 to 5,000 litres or more. We'll size it on site.
Can I drink rainwater?
Yes, with proper filtration and UV treatment installed. Without treatment, tank water should be used for toilets, laundry and gardens only. We install both setups.
Do I need council approval?
Most domestic tanks under a certain size are exempt development in NSW if they meet position and overflow rules. We'll tell you if yours needs approval and install it to comply.
What happens when the tank runs dry?
With a mains changeover valve or pump controller, the system switches to mains water automatically. You won't notice the difference.
How noisy is the pump?
Modern pressure pumps are quiet and can be housed in a cover. We position them away from bedrooms and neighbours where we can.
Can you connect to my existing tank?
Yes. We regularly fit pumps, first-flush diverters and house connections to existing tanks, and replace failed pumps and fittings.
Do I need council approval for a tank in Wollongong?
Usually not. Under the NSW exempt development rules a domestic tank that meets the size and setback conditions can go in without a development application; the NSW Planning Portal lists the conditions. On a new build or a major renovation the tank is normally part of your BASIX certificate. Drinking the water is a separate question, and NSW Health sets out when it's safe.
Want a Rainwater Tank? Let's Plumb It In.
One call gets a licensed plumber out to size, quote and install the whole system, fixed upfront price, no call out fee. Sunny says: free water falls on your roof every time it rains.
*45-minute emergency response during service hours (7am to 5pm) in serviced areas, subject to availability. Book any hour by phone or online.
Sources & further reading
- NSW Health: rainwater tanks when rainwater is safe to drink and how to keep a tank clean
- NSW Planning Portal: BASIX the water and energy targets new homes and big renovations must meet
- NSW Planning Portal: exempt development when a tank needs no council approval
- WaterMark certification scheme (ABCB) every fitting we install must carry it
- NSW Fair Trading licence check search 489163C
Reviewed by the licensed plumbing team at Wollongong Plumbing and Hot Water, NSW Licence No. 489163C. Last updated .