Yesterday, we talked about choosing a tank big enough to last until the next rain. But we deliberately didn’t worry about space of costs, just how much water you needed.

Costs obviously become a factor in choosing a tank for your home. And it is worth looking around at different types of tanks and suppliers before buying one - the first deal it not always the best.

What costs are involved in buying a tank?

You will need to allow for:

• the physical tank itself
• pipes from your roof to your tank and then from your tank to your garden and so on
• a plumber to install the tank and pipes
• preparation of somewhere to place your tank (flattening the area, perhaps adding packed sand or a concrete base)
• a pump to move water from your tank to where you will use it - and an electrical source for that pump

There are government rebates to assist in putting a tank into your home - they vary between states and tank sizes. But the rebates generally won’t apply if you do it yourself instead of paying a plumber.

Is it worth the expense?

Well, apart from helping the environment, giving yourself fresh, unadulterated water, reducing the impact of water restrictions on your lifestyle and reducing the strain on our water catchments, having a water tank can save you money as well.

Once you have decided how much water you could use form a tank, subtract that much from your last water bill. Multiply that over 3 or 4 bills a year for the next 10 years, and the cost of a tank may not seem so large.

And that doesn’t even include the possibility (some would say likelihood) of increased water supply costs resulting from the current crisis.

We consider a tank a short term expense for long term gain - the more water we all collect, the better for us all.