Emergency rainwater tanks

In a disaster, the water supply to your home or business may be interrupted or broken. This means you will need to use stored water for drinking, cooking and cleaning for several weeks or more. The emergency water tank fills up with rainwater from your roof and holds enough water for a family of four for over 16 days (longer if there is rain).

It’s a cheap and sustainable way to get your family better prepared and a handy water source for the vege patch during the peak summer months.

Buy an emergency water tank

The Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) has partnered with an Aotearoa New Zealand water tank manufacturer, The Tank Guy, to make a 200-litre water tank and kit available for $128 (RRP $265). You can buy your kit from our Paraparaumu Service Centre, or any council in the Wellington Region.

WREMO has negotiated a bulk order to provide the tank and fittings at this exceptionally low price. Council staff and facilities have helped to store and distribute the tanks, keeping the price low. This price is not subsidised by ratepayers.

About the tanks

The tank holds 200 litres of water. It’s 1200 mm high, 650 mm wide, weighs 7.5 kg when empty and can fit into the backseat of most cars. The tanks are UV-resistant, food-grade plastic. It is certified as meeting Aotearoa New Zealand standards for water storage.

Tanks sold through councils are available in heritage green and birch grey colours.

The water tank kits are:

• easy to install
• easy to transport (they’ll fit into most cars)
• made of food-grade, UV-resistant plastic
• include all fittings, including a diverter kit, bung and brass tap
• have a 10-year warranty for the tank and 1-year warranty for the diverter kit.

Setting up

The diverter kit is easy to install for most home handy people. The tank comes with installation instructions and you can find an installation video on the Tank Guy website.

If you have any questions, the Tank Guy recommends you seek advice from your local plumber.

You can also connect a series of water tanks together. You’ll need to buy additional material (connecting pipes/hose) from your local hardware store to do this.

You don’t need to fit your tank to a downpipe, and use it to store 200 litres of tap water instead (you’ll need to refresh this tap water every 12 months). You can then connect the tank to the downpipe in an emergency – this is a good option if you’re renting.

If you choose to store tap water, then make sure all holes are covered. 

Water safety and quality

Health professionals recommend boiling roof water before drinking. Taumata Arowai, Aotearoa New Zealand's water services regulator, has information on water collection tanks and safe household water use to help you keep water in your water collection tank safe to drink. 

Maintenance

We recommend you empty, clean, and refill your tank at least once a year. 

If you’re storing tap water (instead of rainwater from your roof) you’ll need to refresh this tap water every 12 months, too.

Problems

If you have a problem with the tank you purchased, get in touch with The Tank Guy through their Tank Guy website, or send them an email.