4602.0 - Environmental Issues: People's Views and Practices, Mar 2007

ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 06/12/2007 Final

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Contents >> Rainwater tanks and Australian Households >> Rainwater tanks and Australian Households Tables

3.6 Rainwater tank as a source of water for households(a)

		NSW	Vic.	Qld	SA	WA	Tas.	NT(b)	ACT	Aust.
MARCH 2007

Number ('000)
	Rainwater tank	421.4	332.4	345.7	295.7	109.6	42.7	*3.4	8.6	1 559.4
	Total households	2 672.3	1 984.8	1 563.0	651.1	805.5	199.1	61.4	128.7	8 065.9
Proportion (%)
	Rainwater tank	15.8	16.7	22.1	45.4	13.6	21.4	*5.5	6.7	19.3
MARCH 2004

Number ('000)
	Rainwater tank	329.5	305.4	261.0	305.0	94.3	38.7	(c)2.9	4.0	1 340.7
	Total households	2 574.8	1 911.1	1 498.1	633.1	782.0	197.3	55.0	124.0	7 775.4
Proportion (%)
	Rainwater tank	12.8	16.0	17.4	48.2	12.1	19.6	(c)5.3	3.2	17.2
MARCH 2001

Number ('000)
	Rainwater tank	236.0	244.7	243.9	318.7	76.2	32.8	(c)0.7	(c)2.5	1 155.5
	Total households	2 423.3	1 806.9	1 397.5	615.2	731.9	190.8	57.0	121.5	7 344.1
Proportion (%)
	Rainwater tank	9.7	13.5	17.5	51.8	10.4	17.2	(c)1.3	(c)2.0	15.7
MARCH 1998

Number ('000)
	Rainwater tank	288.7	239.7	230.4	318.0	67.8	31.1	(c)2.8	(c)1.4	1 180.0
	Total households	2 353.6	1 722.8	1 281.3	594.3	688.9	186.7	56.4	115.8	6 999.7
Proportion (%)
	Rainwater tank	12.3	13.9	18.0	53.5	9.8	16.7	(c)5.0	(c)1.2	16.9
JUNE 1994

Number ('000)
	Rainwater tank	196.0	203.1	202.2	272.2	68.5	32.2	(c)1.2	(c)1.0	976.4
	Total households	2 157.7	1 606.4	1 142.7	567.3	610.6	179.9	46.2	103.6	6 414.5
Proportion (%)
	Rainwater tank	9.1	12.6	17.7	48.0	11.2	17.9	(c)2.6	(c)0.9	15.2

* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution
(a) Includes households that use a rainwater tank as a source of water, regardless of whether or not a rainwater tank was installed at the dwelling. Excludes households that had a rainwater tank installed at the dwelling but that did not report a rainwater tank as a source of water for the household.
(b) Northern Territory data refers mainly to urban areas only.
(c) Estimate is subject to sampling variability too high for most practical purposes.

3.7 Households with rainwater tank installed at dwelling(a) - 2007

		NSW	Vic.	Qld	SA	WA	Tas.	NT(b)(c)	ACT(c)	Aust.
NUMBER ('000)

Capital city
	Dwelling has rainwater tank	125.2	136.8	115.2	193.3	44.0	10.9	*3.7	9.7	638.8
	Dwelling does not have rainwater tank	1 085.0	1 041.9	511.1	240.6	496.1	63.9	46.2	109.0	3 593.9
	Dwelling not suitable for rainwater tank	427.2	229.3	92.3	46.8	67.1	8.0	11.5	9.9	892.0
	Total households	1 637.5	1 408.0	718.6	480.6	607.3	82.8	61.4	128.7	5 124.8
Balance of state/territory
	Dwelling has rainwater tank	315.6	227.2	244.5	127.5	71.0	34.1	-	-	1 019.8
	Dwelling does not have rainwater tank	627.2	293.5	521.5	34.6	115.5	73.4	-	-	1 665.6
	Dwelling not suitable for rainwater tank	92.1	56.1	78.4	*8.5	*11.8	8.9	-	-	255.7
	Total households	1 034.9	576.7	844.4	170.6	198.2	116.3	-	-	2 941.1
Total state/territory
	Dwelling has rainwater tank	440.8	363.9	359.8	320.7	115.0	45.0	*3.7	9.7	1 658.6
	Dwelling does not have rainwater tank	1 712.2	1 335.5	1 032.6	275.2	611.6	137.3	46.2	109.0	5 259.6
	Dwelling not suitable for rainwater tank	519.3	285.4	170.6	55.3	78.9	16.8	11.5	9.9	1 147.7
	Total households	2 672.3	1 984.8	1 563.0	651.1	805.5	199.1	61.4	128.7	8 065.9
PROPORTION (%)

Capital city
	Dwelling has rainwater tank	7.6	9.7	16.0	40.2	7.2	13.2	*6.0	7.6	12.5
	Dwelling does not have rainwater tank	66.3	74.0	71.1	50.1	81.7	77.2	75.3	84.7	70.1
	Dwelling not suitable for rainwater tank	26.1	16.3	12.8	9.7	11.1	9.6	18.7	7.7	17.4
Balance of state/territory
	Dwelling has rainwater tank	30.5	39.4	29.0	74.7	35.8	29.3	-	-	34.7
	Dwelling does not have rainwater tank	60.6	50.9	61.8	20.3	58.3	63.1	-	-	56.6
	Dwelling not suitable for rainwater tank	8.9	9.7	9.3	*5.0	*5.9	7.6	-	-	8.7
Total state/territory
	Dwelling has rainwater tank	16.5	18.3	23.0	49.3	14.3	22.6	*6.0	7.6	20.6
	Dwelling does not have rainwater tank	64.1	67.3	66.1	42.3	75.9	68.9	75.3	84.7	65.2
	Dwelling not suitable for rainwater tank	19.4	14.4	10.9	8.5	9.8	8.5	18.7	7.7	14.2

* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) Includes households that had a rainwater tank installed at the dwelling even if they did not report a rainwater tank as a source of water for the household.
(b) Northern Territory data refers to mainly urban areas only.
(c) No regional split between capital city and balance of state/territory for the NT and the ACT as the sample does not support any breakdown beyond the whole territory.

3.8 Households with rainwater tanks(a)(b), Sufficient supply - 2007

	NSW	Vic.	Qld	SA	WA	Tas.	NT(c)	ACT	Aust.
NUMBER ('000)

Sufficient supply	329.6	234.9	286.8	227.8	82.0	29.9	np	np	1 198.4
Insufficient supply	65.0	78.7	36.6	49.2	17.5	np	np	np	261.9
Don't know	*5.5	*7.7	10.9	*3.3	*2.6	np	-	np	30.9
Total households	400.2	321.4	334.3	280.3	102.0	41.4	*3.1	8.5	1 491.2
PROPORTION (%)

Sufficient supply	82.4	73.1	85.8	81.3	80.3	72.4	np	np	80.4
Insufficient supply	16.3	24.5	10.9	17.6	17.1	np	np	np	17.6
Don't know	*1.4	*2.4	3.3	*1.2	*2.5	np	-	np	2.1

* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
np not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated
(a) Includes households which have a rainwater tank at their dwelling but excludes those households which have a rainwater tank but do not use it.
(b) These figures are not directly comparable to those appearing in previous editions (refer to Explanatory Note 19).
(c) Northern Territory data refers to mainly urban areas only.

3.9 Households with rainwater tank(a), Reasons why tank was installed - 2007

		NSW	Vic.	Qld	SA	WA	Tas.	NT(b)(c)	ACT(c)	Aust.
NUMBER(d) ('000)

Capital City
	To save water	67.0	73.6	45.6	56.8	13.9	*2.0	**1.8	5.1	265.8
	Not connected to mains water	**4.0	**8.2	*8.0	**4.8	*5.4	*4.9	**1.4	-	36.7
	Water restrictions on mains water	32.0	24.7	29.0	*2.7	np	np	-	3.5	93.8
	Concerns about quality of other sources of water/prefer rainwater	*3.2	*2.7	5.9	30.5	7.8	-	np	np	51.4
	To save on water costs	17.1	10.8	*8.2	19.6	np	np	np	*1.7	61.6
	For outdoor usage	10.3	15.7	17.9	7.7	np	np	-	np	52.6
	Other	25.0	10.7	15.2	14.3	5.2	*1.4	-	*1.2	73.0
	Total households	104.5	108.4	94.7	107.4	28.4	6.9	*3.3	8.3	461.8
Balance of state/territory
	To save water	73.7	34.7	36.7	31.6	*8.2	4.7	-	-	189.6
	Not connected to mains water	74.9	58.8	89.8	*12.6	*14.7	9.9	-	-	260.6
	Water restrictions on mains water	16.6	15.1	20.2	*4.8	np	np	-	-	57.1
	Concerns about quality of other sources of water/prefer rainwater	45.7	30.5	29.4	30.9	21.0	*4.1	-	-	161.7
	To save on water costs	33.0	*7.6	*9.2	14.0	np	np	-	-	68.7
	For outdoor usage	*2.4	*6.1	*6.9	-	np	np	-	-	15.7
	Other	16.8	9.5	16.2	7.1	5.6	*1.3	-	-	56.6
	Total households	196.9	135.4	166.4	65.5	44.2	20.6	-	-	629.1
Total state/territory
	To save water	140.7	108.3	82.3	88.4	22.1	6.6	**1.8	5.1	455.4
	Not connected to mains water	79.0	67.0	97.8	*17.3	20.1	14.8	**1.4	-	297.3
	Water restrictions on mains water	48.6	39.8	49.2	7.5	np	np	-	3.5	150.9
	Concerns about quality of other sources of water/prefer rainwater	48.9	33.2	35.2	61.4	28.8	*4.1	np	np	213.1
	To save on water costs	50.1	18.4	17.4	33.5	7.1	np	np	*1.7	130.4
	For outdoor usage	12.7	21.8	24.9	7.7	np	np	-	np	68.3
	Other	41.7	20.3	31.3	21.4	10.8	*2.7	-	*1.2	129.6
	Total households	301.4	243.8	261.0	172.9	72.7	27.6	*3.3	8.3	1 090.9
PROPORTION (%)

Capital City
	To save water	64.1	67.9	48.1	52.9	49.0	*28.1	*55.8	62.3	57.5
	Not connected to mains water	**3.9	**7.6	*8.4	**4.4	*18.9	70.7	**44.5	-	7.9
	Water restrictions on mains water	30.7	22.8	30.7	*2.5	np	np	-	42.3	20.3
	Concerns about quality of other sources of water/prefer rainwater	*3.0	**2.5	6.2	28.4	27.5	-	np	np	11.1
	To save on water costs	16.4	10.0	*8.7	18.2	np	np	np	20.1	13.3
	For outdoor usage	*9.9	14.5	18.9	7.2	np	np	-	np	11.4
	Other	23.9	9.9	16.0	13.3	18.3	*20.3	-	*14.8	15.8
Balance of state/territory
	To save water	37.4	25.7	22.1	48.3	*18.5	22.6	-	-	30.1
	Not connected to mains water	38.1	43.4	54.0	*19.2	33.2	47.8	-	-	41.4
	Water restrictions on mains water	8.4	11.1	12.1	*7.3	np	np	-	-	9.1
	Concerns about quality of other sources of water/prefer rainwater	23.2	22.6	17.7	47.2	47.4	*20.1	-	-	25.7
	To save on water costs	16.8	*5.6	*5.5	21.3	np	np	-	-	10.9
	For outdoor usage	*1.2	*4.5	*4.2	-	np	np	-	-	2.5
	Other	8.5	7.0	9.7	10.9	12.8	*6.5	-	-	9.0
Total state/territory
	To save water	46.7	44.4	31.5	51.1	30.4	24.0	*55.8	62.3	41.7
	Not connected to mains water	26.2	27.5	37.5	*10.0	27.6	53.6	**44.5	-	27.3
	Water restrictions on mains water	16.1	16.3	18.8	4.3	np	np	-	42.3	13.8
	Concerns about quality of other sources of water/prefer rainwater	16.2	13.6	13.5	35.5	39.6	*15.0	np	np	19.5
	To save on water costs	16.6	7.6	6.7	19.4	9.8	np	np	20.1	12.0
	For outdoor usage	4.2	8.9	9.5	4.4	np	np	-	np	6.3
	Other	13.8	8.3	12.0	12.4	14.9	*10.0	-	*14.8	11.9

* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution
** estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
np not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated
(a) Includes only those households which installed their own rainwater tank.
(b) Northern Territory data refers to mainly urban areas only.
(c) No regional split between capital city and balance of state/territory for NT and ACT as the sample does not support any breakdown beyond the whole territory.
(d) Totals do not equal the sum of items in each column as more than one reason may have been reported.

3.10 Whether a rainwater tank is installed at dwelling(a), By selected attributes - 2007

		Dwelling has tank	Dwelling does not have tank
		%	%

Tenure
	Owned outright	30.4	69.6
	Being purchased	22.3	77.7
	Rented	12.7	87.3
Dwelling type(b)
	Separate house	25.9	74.1
	Semi-detached, row/terrace house, townhouse etc.	6.2	93.8
Household type
	Family household(c)	24.9	75.1
	Lone person household	22.0	78.0
	Group household	13.2	86.8
Who pays for water
	Pays all water costs	24.5	75.5
	Pays part of water costs	12.7	87.3
	Landlord/someone else pays	25.5	74.5

(a) Figures in each row have been calculated as a proportion of the total households with the attribute described in that row.
(b) The dwelling type 'Flat, unit or apartment' is not shown as these types of dwellings are unsuitable for installation of rainwater tanks.
(c) Includes one family households and multiple family households with or without non-family members present.

3.11 Households without a rainwater tank(a)(b), Whether considered installing a tank - 2007

		NSW	Vic.	Qld	SA	WA	Tas.	NT(c)(d)	ACT(d)	Aust.
NUMBER ('000)

Capital City
	Considered installing	502.5	529.5	274.6	105.9	162.9	20.7	9.8	53.7	1 659.5
	Did not consider installing(a)	344.4	316.2	72.4	64.0	209.1	30.4	20.7	27.5	1 084.9
	Total households	847.0	845.7	346.9	169.9	372.0	51.2	30.5	81.2	2 744.4
Balance of state/territory
	Considered installing	289.7	151.9	207.8	14.9	44.6	26.3	-	-	735.3
	Did not consider installing(a)	179.2	70.6	146.9	6.7	28.7	29.3	-	-	461.6
	Total households	469.0	222.6	354.7	21.6	73.3	55.7	-	-	1 196.9
Total state/territory
	Considered installing	792.3	681.4	482.4	120.8	207.4	47.1	9.8	53.7	2 394.9
	Did not consider installing(a)	523.7	386.8	219.3	70.7	237.9	59.8	20.7	27.5	1 546.4
	Total households	1 315.9	1 068.3	701.6	191.5	445.3	106.9	30.5	81.2	3 941.3
PROPORTION (%)

Capital City
	Considered installing	59.3	62.6	79.1	62.3	43.8	40.5	32.1	66.1	60.5
	Did not consider installing(a)	40.7	37.4	20.9	37.7	56.2	59.5	67.9	33.9	39.5
Balance of state/territory
	Considered installing	61.8	68.3	58.6	68.9	60.8	47.3	-	-	61.4
	Did not consider installing(a)	38.2	31.7	41.4	31.1	39.2	52.7	-	-	38.6
Total state/territory
	Considered installing	60.2	63.8	68.8	63.1	46.6	44.0	32.1	66.1	60.8
	Did not consider installing(a)	39.8	36.2	31.2	36.9	53.4	56.0	67.9	33.9	39.2

- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) Includes those households that responded "Don't know'.
(b) These figures are not comparable to those appearing in previous editions (refer to Explanatory Note 20).
(c) Northern Territory data refers to mainly urban areas only.
(d) No regional split between capital city and balance of state/territory available for NT and the ACT as the sample does not support any breakdown beyond the whole territory.

3.12 Factors preventing installation of a rainwater tank(a)(b) - 2007

	NSW	Vic.	Qld	SA	WA	Tas.	NT(c)	ACT	Aust.
NUMBER ('000)

Not allowed in the area	18.4	12.4	8.7	np	np	*1.5	*1.7	*0.9	44.5
Cost	420.8	345.7	185.0	48.1	88.4	19.3	4.4	26.7	1 138.3
No room	124.1	83.9	47.8	28.0	32.3	np	np	9.8	328.9
No time/planned but haven't got around to it	195.3	179.5	159.3	35.5	68.7	19.2	*2.8	14.4	674.6
Health concerns	*7.1	*5.5	*6.8	*3.7	np	*1.6	np	**0.5	32.6
Insufficient rainfall	*6.7	39.4	*5.4	*2.6	6.4	np	np	3.8	64.6
Tank ordered but not yet installed	15.0	20.9	35.3	np	*2.5	np	np	*0.7	76.0
Still considering/awaiting renovations or repairs	16.7	10.0	14.7	*1.3	*2.6	*1.5	np	np	47.4
Dwelling not suitable	16.2	12.6	19.7	*3.1	*4.4	*1.3	-	*1.9	59.3
Planning to move house	18.3	15.3	16.7	**0.8	*4.5	**0.7	-	-	56.2
Other	46.3	66.4	44.6	9.5	15.5	*2.4	**0.7	5.6	191.0
Don't know	14.4	*6.3	6.7	**1.2	6.5	np	np	np	35.9
Total households	792.3	681.4	482.4	120.8	207.4	47.1	9.8	53.7	2 394.9
PROPORTION (%)

Not allowed in the area	2.3	1.8	1.8	np	np	*3.3	*17.6	*1.6	1.9
Cost	53.1	50.7	38.3	39.8	42.6	41.0	44.6	49.8	47.5
No room	15.7	12.3	9.9	23.2	15.6	np	np	18.3	13.7
No time/planned but haven't got around to it	24.6	26.3	33.0	29.4	33.1	40.7	*28.2	26.9	28.2
Health concerns	*0.9	*0.8	*1.4	*3.1	np	*3.5	np	**0.9	1.4
Insufficient rainfall	*0.8	5.8	*1.1	*2.1	*3.1	np	np	7.0	2.7
Tank ordered but not yet installed	1.9	3.1	7.3	1.0	*1.2	np	np	*1.3	3.2
Still considering/awaiting renovations or repairs	2.1	1.5	3.0	*1.1	*1.3	*3.1	np	np	2.0
Dwelling not suitable	2.0	1.9	4.1	*2.5	*2.1	*2.8	-	*3.6	2.5
Planning to move house	2.3	2.2	3.5	**0.6	*2.2	**1.4	-	-	2.3
Other	5.8	9.7	9.2	7.8	7.5	*5.1	**6.8	10.5	8.0
Don't know	1.8	*0.9	1.4	**1.0	3.1	np	np	np	1.5

* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution
** estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
np not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated
(a) Includes only households which are owner occupiers/purchasers, who have considered installing a rainwater tank. Excludes households where the dwelling is unsuitable for a rainwater tank (e.g. flats) and dwellings where there is already a rainwater tank.
(b) These figures are not directly comparable to those appearing in previous editions (refer to Explanatory Note 20).
(c) Northern Territory data refers to mainly urban areas only.