August 5, 2001 - Wellington
MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE
Forest and Bird is calling on councils in urban areas to provide incentives for households to install rainwater tanks.
This policy was supported at Forest and Bird’s recent Council Meeting.
“Most of the water used in the home is flushed down the toilet or used to water the garden. This is very wasteful,” said
Eric Pyle, Forest and Bird’s Conservation Manager. “Rainwater collection systems would decrease water demand and reduce
drawdown on reservoirs – Auckland may not have needed to build the Waikato pipeline if rainwater tanks had been part of
water policy there.”
Huge sums of money are currently spent supplying drinking water which is then flushed down the toilet or used for
watering the garden. “Rainwater collection systems could help lower costs for supplying water,” said Eric Pyle.
Household rainwater tanks could also help reduce stormwater flows. “In some urban areas stormwater is a major problem in
terms of infrastructure needed for disposal and impacts on streams and estuaries. Rainwater tanks could help reduce
stormwater peaks,” said Eric Pyle.
With infill housing development, the impermeable area is increasing as are stormwater flows. “Stormwater impacts are
increasing with infill housing. Household rainwater tanks could help mitigate some of the stormwater effects of infill
housing as well as reducing water use,” said Mr Pyle.
Ends
Eric Pyle
Conservation Manager
email: e.pyle@wn.forest-bird.org.nz
phone 04 385 7374 work; 025 227 8420;