Factors That Affect the Cost of Rainwater Tank Gauges

 Rainwater tank gauges are an attractive measure to reduce mains water demand. However, the relative effectiveness of rainwater harvesting is heavily dependent on the cost of water. Consequently, it is important to understand how factors such as cost, convenience, and aesthetics affect the adoption of such measures. The results of a recent study may help design financial incentives to encourage households to use this resource.

Using a survey of Sydney residents, Tapsuwan, and colleagues measured consumer willingness to pay (WTP) for different aspects of a rainwater tank gauges. Their findings have implications for future education programs and could inform a range of policy and economic considerations. In particular, the results of this study are of interest to planners and designers of financial incentives to encourage the adoption of such technology.

One of the most interesting findings from the study was that people are willing to pay more for certain types of tanks, particularly slimline ones. Slimline rainwater tanks are attractive because they are less obstructive and tend to have smaller lot sizes. This may explain why respondents are more likely to pay for them.

As an alternative, the researchers explored the efficacy of using a tank to store surplus rainwater. They calculated the number of kilolitres of water that would be saved by a rainwater harvesting system. For a 2000-litre tank, the savings would be 43 to 57 kilolitres per year.

Other notable findings are that households with higher incomes were more likely to install a rainwater tank, and that people are more willing to pay for slimline tanks. The most important point to note is that while respondents are more willing to spend on slimline tanks, their relative merit is not matched by the amount of money they are willing to spend.

A more comprehensive study would be necessary to assess the viability of the various strategies. The paper suggests that the most practical approach to using a rainwater tank is to provide a financial incentive to encourage adoption. These may include rebates, subsidies, or free tank maintenance. Alternatively, consumers may be able to adopt such measures on their own, provided they are given sufficient information on how to do it.

There are other important variables to consider, such as the size of a rainwater tank. The larger the tank, the more water it can store. And, the smaller the tank, the more frequently it can reach its Vmin. All tanks in the study reached Vmin, but the smallest tanks did so more often than the largest. Similarly, the average length of the longest storage tank was significantly shorter than the shortest.

It is also important to note that respondents are most likely to spend the time and effort required to make a decision. Furthermore, it is also important to understand what features households value most. Some of these included being able to connect an outdoor rainwater tank to their toilet and washing machine. Others included being able to use rainwater for garden irrigation.