Selling a Donnybrook property with rainwater tanks: a 2026 guide

Rainwater tanks are common across rural Western Australia and can be important on Donnybrook lifestyle, orchard and acreage properties. A listing that says “plenty of water” does not tell a buyer whether water is collected from roofs, carted, drawn from a bore, connected to scheme supply or suitable for drinking.

This guide is general property-marketing information, not drinking-water, plumbing, health, engineering, legal, water-licensing or valuation advice. Water quality and supply reliability are property-specific. Sellers should use licensed trades, accredited laboratories, health authorities, service providers and settlement professionals for qualified advice.

Map every water source and its intended use

Begin with a simple diagram showing each roof catchment, gutter, first-flush device, tank, pump, filter, treatment unit, trough, irrigation line and house connection. Mark scheme, bore, dam and carted-water inputs separately. If valves change the source, explain the normal operating arrangement.

HealthyWA says rainwater tanks may be filled from roof runoff, bore water or a water-carting service. The source matters because water suited to stock, irrigation or washing may not be suitable for drinking or food preparation. Avoid using the single phrase “potable water” for an entire mixed system unless current evidence supports each relevant source and connection.

Official source: HealthyWA — water tanks on your property, checked 15 September 2026.

Confirm tank capacity from reliable information

Use invoices, manufacturer plates or installation records to confirm tank size. Visual estimates can be wrong, especially for older or partially buried tanks. State whether a figure is for one tank or combined nominal capacity and avoid implying that the tanks are always full.

Capacity alone does not prove security of supply. HealthyWA notes that the amount of rainwater available depends on rainfall, roof area, tank size and how much water the household uses. A seller should explain the physical system and any known carting history without guaranteeing that it will meet a different household's future needs.

Gather installation and maintenance records

Collect tank, pump, filter and treatment invoices; plumbing diagrams; electrical records; warranties; service dates; cleaning records; and water-carting receipts where available. Record the age of each component only when supported by reliable information.

If a pump has been replaced or pipework modified, keep the newer invoice with the original system file. Explain which items are included in the sale, such as spare filters, controllers or transfer pumps. The settlement professional can advise how fixed and movable equipment should be described.

Review the catchment and tank condition

From safe ground level, inspect gutters, screens, first-flush devices, overflows, lids, vents and visible pipework. Look for open access points, corrosion, leaks, accumulated debris or evidence that animals can enter. Do not climb on roofs or enter tanks; use an appropriate contractor.

HealthyWA warns that rainwater can be contaminated by animal droppings, dead animals, insects, debris, air pollution and unsuitable roof materials. It recommends considering materials in the roof catchment that might contaminate water. If the system is uncertain, arrange qualified inspection and advice before making a drinking-water claim.

Use water testing carefully

A laboratory result describes the sample, parameters and date tested. It is not a lifetime guarantee. If testing is arranged, use an appropriately accredited laboratory and follow its sampling instructions. Give the report to the professional team without rewriting the result in stronger language.

Water quality can change after rain, maintenance, contamination or a change of source. Marketing can state that a dated report is available, but buyers should be encouraged to obtain their own advice. Never publish health-sensitive details or personal laboratory information unnecessarily.

Distinguish bore water from drinking water

HealthyWA says bore water may be suitable for uses such as stock watering, irrigation, toilet flushing and washing, depending on local characteristics. It should not be used for drinking, bathing, edible plants, food preparation or cooking unless it has been properly tested and treated for the intended use.

If bore water can top up a rainwater tank, explain how cross-connections are controlled and which uses apply. Ask a licensed plumber or relevant health professional for advice. Do not assume a clear-looking supply is safe or that a treatment device makes every source suitable for every purpose.

Explain pumps, power and backup arrangements

Buyers may ask how water reaches the house during a power outage, what pressure is available and whether there is a backup pump. Record the pump model, controller, power source and known backup arrangement from invoices or professional assessment. Do not promise pressure or flow throughout the property without testing.

Run normal taps and fixtures before launch and address obvious leaks, unusual cycling or low pressure with a licensed trade. Keep repair invoices. If the house changes between tank and scheme supply, provide a clear operating guide without sharing security codes or personal account information.

Prepare the system for photography

Clear loose rubbish and unmanaged vegetation around tanks, pumps and access points while preserving safe working clearances. Replace missing labels where a licensed trade recommends them. Do not paint over compliance information, conceal corrosion or remove pipework digitally.

Southside Media can photograph the tanks as part of the wider property story: roof catchment, home, productive areas and landscape. A clean overview image and one useful detail frame are often more effective than many technical close-ups. Video can show where the system sits without claiming performance.

For larger properties, lawful aerial imagery may show relationships between buildings, tanks, dams and orchards. The caption should distinguish visible infrastructure from licensed water entitlements. Our Donnybrook water-licence, dam and bore guide explains that separate records may be needed.

Create a buyer-ready water file

• Diagram of sources, tanks, pumps and main connections.
• Verified nominal capacity for each tank.
• Invoices, model details and warranty documents.
• Recent cleaning, filter and service records.
• Dated laboratory results where testing was completed.
• Carted-water history stated factually, if relevant.
• Operating instructions for valves and controllers.
• Professional contacts for unresolved plumbing or health questions.

Give the full file to the licensed agent and settlement professional. They can decide which documents should be available publicly, on request or during due diligence. Redact account numbers, passwords and other personal details before sharing.

Use current market figures only as context

REIWA's Donnybrook profile, updated 13 September 2026 for settled sales in the 12 months ending August 2026, reported a $730,000 median house sale price, 14.1 per cent annual growth and a 46-day median time on market. Three-bedroom and four-bedroom medians were $677,000 and $838,000.

These suburb figures do not value a rainwater system or individual property. Contribution depends on the property type, reliability, condition, documentation, alternative sources and buyer needs. A licensed appraisal must use comparable sales and examine the complete property rather than add the installation cost to an expected price.

Market source: REIWA Donnybrook suburb profile, data updated 13 September 2026.

Approve precise claims before launch

Check phrases such as “mains water”, “potable”, “filtered”, “bore connected”, “large-capacity tanks” and “ample water” against evidence. Use capacities and source descriptions instead of adjectives wherever possible. If a buyer must investigate suitability, say so clearly.

Properties with onsite wastewater should also use our Donnybrook septic and wastewater checklist. Keeping drinking water and wastewater records separate makes both systems easier to understand.

A clear water file will not guarantee a higher sale price or uninterrupted supply. It can reduce uncertainty and help buyers compare the property on facts: what is installed, where water comes from, how it is used and which questions still need qualified advice.