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INTERNATIONAL
WATER-HARVESTING
AND RELATED FINANCIAL
INCENTIVES
State Governments in the following states in Australia have taken active steps to ensure that the newly constructed houses are designed and built with the latest energy and water efficient designs and products. This initiative is supported by legislation.
1. Victoria
Since July 2005, new houses and apartments in Victoria must be built to meet the energy efficiency and water management requirements of the 5 Star standard.
The 5 Star standard requires:
5 Star energy efficiency rating for the building fabric;
Water efficient taps and fittings; plus either a rainwater tank for toilet flushing, or a solar hot water system.
2. South Australia
In SA, new homes will be required to have a rainwater tank plumbed into the house.
3. Sydney and New South Wales
In Syndey and New South Wales, the BASIX (Building And Sustainability Index) building regulations call for a 40% reduction in mains water usage. A typical single dwelling design will meet the BASIX target for water conservation if it includes:
1. Showerheads, tap fittings and toilets with at least a 3A rating;
2. A rainwater tank or alternative water supply for outdoor water use and toilet flushing and/or laundry
4. Gold Coast: Construction of 3,000-litre (800-gallon) rainwater tank has been made mandatory in the Pimpama Coomera Master Plan area of Gold Coast. This is for all homes and businesses centres connected to the Class A+ recycled Water system (those approved for development after 29 August 2005). The tank should be plumbed to their cold-water washing machine and outdoors faucets.
For details see: Click here>>
5. Queens land: A rebate of up to $1,500 for the purchase and installation of home rainwater storages has been offered by the State of Queens in Australia.
For details see: Click here>>
Rain taxes are collected for the amount of impervious surface cover on a property that generates runoff directed to the local storm sewer. So, more the rainwater is caught and conserved, less is the runoff added to the storm drains. Less runoff allows smaller storm sewers, which, in turn, saves construction and maintenance costs at the site. Thus people get rain tax reductions by converting their impervious pavement/roof into a porous one
1. State Of Arizona: The Government had announced a one-time tax credit of 25% of the cost of water conservation system (the maximum limit is $1,000) for its residents. The water conservation system is defined as any system, which can harvest residential grey water and/or rainwater. Even the builders are eligible to get the tax credit up to $200 per residence unit constructed with a water conservation system. Any citizen in this state who has purchased a water harvesting system on or after January 1st, 2008, can apply for the Arizona tax credit. There is roughly $250,000 per year allocated for these tax credits.
2. New Mexico: a) Santa Fe County- Residences with 2,500 sq ft or more area must install an active rainwater catchment system comprised of cisterns. All commercial developments are required to collect all roof drainage into cisterns to be reused for landscape irrigation.
For more details: Click here>>
b) Albuquerque and Bernalillo County- Residences with 2,500 sq ft or more area must install an active rainwater catchment system comprised of cisterns. All commercial developments are required to collect all roof drainage into cisterns to be reused for landscape irrigation.
3. State of Texas: The 77th Texas Legislature passed in 2001, amended Section 11.32 of the Texas Tax Code to allow taxing units of government the option to exempt from taxation all or a part of the assessed value of the property on which water conservation modifications have been made.
- City of Austin-The residents of the city of Austin can buy rain barrels at subsidized rates and also they can avail rebate for the installation of approved cistern systems. Commercial/industrial properties can avail rebates up to $40,000 for the installation of rainwater harvesting and Grey water systems.
- City of San Antonio-The citizens are eligible up to 50 per cent rebate for rainwater harvesting projects under San Antonio Water System’s (SAWS). SAWS will give up to 50 per cent rebate on the cost of new water-saving equipment, including rainwater harvesting systems, to its commercial, industrial, and institutional customers. Rebates are calculated by multiplying acre-feet of water conserved by a set value of $200/acre-foot.
For details: Click here>>
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