Water smart rebates

Council is offering up to $1,000 on rebates to help you manage your water use and garden and support our local environment at home. Rebates are available for residents to make improvements to their home, school or workplace.  

Water Smart rebates include water tanks, rain gardens, green roofs and permeable surfaces and Ku-ring-gai residents can claim up to $1,000 across all these options.

What can I claim?

  • Permeable surfaces (driveways, patios and pool decks).
  • Green roofs
  • Rain gardens and swales
  • Rainwater tank and plumbing connections.

*All rebates will be paid towards invoiced material and installations costs. Rebates are subject to availability of funds. Rebates will not be given to works required for either BASIX or Development Application compliance.

Up to $1,000 in rebates can be claimed per property within a 5-year period.

Apply now

Water Smart rainwater tank rebate application

Water Smart rainscape rebate pre-approval application

Water Smart rainscape final rebate claim 

Rainwater tanks

Watch this video on how to clean your first flush diverter for a high functioning water tank.

Rainwater tanks capture rainwater run-off from your roof to provide a valuable water to use for washing clothes, flushing toilets, watering gardens and topping up pools. Tanks also help our natural areas by reducing stormwater run-off from properties which can move a lot of sediment, clogging up local creeks and waters. A rainwater tank can halve your water bill by saving you 35,000 – 60,000 litres per year.

Ku-ring-gai residents and businesses can claim up to $500 towards the cost of installing a rainwater tank and $250 per internal connection from the tank (maximum two). Read more at the links below:

Greywater

This is wastewater from non-toilet plumbing fixtures such as showers, basins and taps. It is ideal for garden watering, with the appropriate precautions, such as using low/no sodium and phosphorus products and applying the water below the surface. Appropriately treated greywater can also be reused indoors for toilet flushing and clothes washing, both significant water consumers. Read more at the links below:

Raingardens and swales

Learn how you can install an attractive raingarden which will slow and filter stormwater from your property. These self-watering gardens help protect our environment as they reduce storm water pollution. Swales are similar but generally are a wide and shallow garden, sloping to a destination and with a path that maximises the time water spends in the swale.

Residents can claim up to $1000 on the cost of their raingarden or swale design.

More information


Green roofs

A green roof not only slows stormwater, it is also a very effective way to insulate your home. Read more at links below.

Permeable surfaces

Replacing concrete and asphalt with permeable surfaces is a great way to slow stormwater runoff from your home. Permeable pavements are built with materials that let water pass through. This helps to reduce pollution, erosion and flooding in local streams and waterways. It also has the bonus effect of reducing urban heat island effect around the house. Permeable pavement can be installed on driveways, walkways, patios and around swimming pools. Read more at links below:

Water saving tips

Simple and inexpensive things you can do to save water at home.

  • Check for leaking taps - one leaking tap can waste up to 2,000 litres a month.
  • Check for and repair any leaking pipes - turn off all taps for an hour and take your meter reading at the beginning and end. Any change in meter reading indicates a leak.
  • Install water efficient taps or retrofit older taps with flow-regulating aerators.
  • Check your hot water thermostat - set your hot water system thermostat between 60- 650C.
  • Insulate exposed hot water pipes.
  • Switch to a WELS 3-star rated showerhead - a standard showerhead uses 15 to 25 litres of water per minute while a WELS 3-star rated water efficient showerhead uses six or seven litres.
  • Upgrade toilet cisterns - older toilet cisterns can use more than 12 litres of water with every use. Replacing them with efficient 4.5/3L dual flush cistern will considerably reduce water consumption.
  • Save when you shave - rinse your razor in the sink instead of a running tap.
  • Turn the tap off while you brush your teeth.
  • Use rainwater.
  • Use a broom rather than a hose to clean driveways, steps and sidewalks.
  • Water your garden wisely - during the coolest part of the day, generally in the morning and evening, and avoid watering on windy days.
  • Cover your pool or spa when not in use.
  • Wash your car on the lawn.

Sustainability rebates are exclusively for Ku-ring-gai residents and are funded by Ku-ring-gai Council’s Environmental Levy.

Ask us a question

Please contact us by email: sustainability@krg.nsw.gov.au

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