Rainwater Harvesting News…and other stories
Rainwater irrigation – how does your garden grow?
While the use of rainwater for garden irrigation has clear water conservation advantage, there are additional benefits for your plants. This interesting article delves into the composition of water and the effects – both beneficial and adverse – your method of irrigation may have on your garden.
For plants, rain has benefits that tap water simply can’t deliver
Davey Evolution in-tank pump system AKA EVO MKII


Professionally installed rainwater systems are low maintenance; but not NO maintenance.
Common maintenance issues or problems you may find with the EVO rainwater pumping systems include
- blocked filter
- pulsing water (water hammer) when switched to town water supply
- town water supply lock out
- electrical dead short which will cause your Safety Switch to trip your power board.
Having worked for Tankworks for a number of years, and maintaining a close working relationship ever since, Jim Steel of Water Tactics has extensive experience with the EVO systems. Water Tactics offers EVO water system servicing, trouble-shooting, spare parts, replacement filters and specialised testing equipment.
We can provide a full assessment of your EVO MK I or MK II system and offer maintenance, repair and replacement services. Ask Jim about a range of of alternative solutions for your rainwater capture, storage and water pumping requirements.
Global Water Security and Brisbane’s rainwater revival
You will also find reference to the role rainwater harvesting must play in the solution to water security in all countries. Given the scope of the undertaking, I must admit to being surprised (and even a little bit proud) that Brisbane, Australia is noted in regard to the role of public education and awareness campaigns in the role of water conservation by reducing consumption.
In the ‘Implementation’ section regarding ‘Domestic Conservation Education’, it is noted: …”Considering Brisbane, Australia as an example, when facing a drought, the government implemented various conservation measures. Bans on lawn watering, shortened showers, and public awareness campaigns nearly halved water consumption…”
Other recent analysis suggests that some of the lessons learnt here in Brisbane during the severe drought peaking around 2007 are, in fact, still largely adhered to. It still seems surreal to think that South-East Queensland came dangerously close to running out of water: something hitherto regarded as almost impossible in a sub-tropical climate.
As well as establishing bans on external mains water use during the height of the drought, local and State Governments offered financial rebates for installing rainwater tanks. A far cry from the days of issuing bans against the use of rainwater tanks, which occurred in Brisbane around the 1960s. It seems now that the combined effect of reduced mains water consumption and the availability of independent rainwater supplies is once again causing ‘concern’ for governments; this time in the form of reduced water consumption revenue!
These days we don’t tend to hear words of encouragement to install a rainwater tank to decentralise supply, nor encouragement to use rainwater as a substitute for filtered, processed and piped potable water when it is perfectly suited to purpose. Why should we be using our expensive, treated water on the garden, to wash the car, clean the windows, or hose down the driveway?
Especially here in the land of “drought and flooding rains”, we should be heeding the lessons of the past. After reading the findings from Mission 2017 and the proposed strategies for achieving global water security, you may have cause to question our collective priorities and attitudes to sustainable living and local water security.
“The Ripple Effect” featuring Water Tactics

The Ripple Effect is an initiative of the Rainwater Harvesting Association of Australia.
World Water Day 2016 – Water and Jobs

Read more on the official United Nations World Water Day website.
Looking back: World Water day 2015 engaged the theme of “Water and Sustainable Development”. Here is a link the the WWD15 website.
On the topic of global water scarcity, see this fascinating collection of images by International Business Times reporter David Sim “…to make you think twice about wasting this precious resource”.