To meet BASIX water efficiency targets, you need efficient fixtures, a rainwater tank, and a garden that does not drink like a fish. Every new home in NSW has to use up to 40% less water than the state average before it can earn its BASIX Certificate. That sounds demanding, but with a bit of planning, it’s very achievable.
This guide walks through five practical ways to hit your water target.
What Are BASIX Water Efficiency Targets?
BASIX asks new NSW homes to cut their potable water use against a set benchmark. That benchmark is the old pre-BASIX average of 90,340 litres per person each year, or 247 litres a day.
Your job is to beat it. The BASIX water efficiency target asks for a reduction of up to 40%, though the exact figure depends on where you build. It ranges from 0% to 40% across NSW’s climate zones. Whatever your zone, you must prove the savings on paper before you get approval, so it is not something you can sort out later.
Here’s how to get there.
How to Meet Your BASIX Water Efficiency Target?
Tip 1: Choose the Highest WELS-Rated Fixtures
Start with your taps, showerheads, and toilets. They are the quickest win you have.
Each carries a WELS water efficiency rating from zero to six stars, and the scheme has been mandatory since 2006. More stars simply means less water down the drain. Aim for:
- Showerheads rated 3 stars or higher, using 9 litres a minute or less
- Dual-flush toilets rated 4 stars or above
- Flow-regulated taps to trim everyday use
The difference is bigger than it looks. Swap a basic showerhead for a 4-star model and your score climbs noticeably, all from a fixture nobody will ever comment on. Little choices like this add up fast toward your BASIX water efficiency targets.
Tip 2: Install a Rainwater Tank
A rainwater tank is one of the heaviest hitters on this list. It catches water off your roof and puts it to work where you do not need drinking-quality supply.
Plumb it into your toilets, laundry, or garden, and your mains water use drops sharply. The larger the tank, and the more uses you connect it to, the more you save. A tank feeding your toilets is one of the single strongest ways to meet the BASIX water requirements NSW sets. Even a modest one adds up.
Tip 3: Plant a Water-Wise Garden
Gardens are sneaky. A thirsty one can undo a lot of your indoor savings, so what you plant matters.
This is where native plants for water conservation shine. Aussie natives grew up in this climate, so they need a fraction of the water an exotic species demands. A few simple habits go a long way:
- Pick low-water, drought-tolerant natives
- Group plants with similar thirst together
- Mulch well to hold moisture in the soil
- Run the garden off your rainwater tank
One thing to note. If you claim water savings for low-water plants in your BASIX submission, you will usually need a landscape plan naming the exact species. Sort that out early so it doesn’t become a hold-up.
Tip 4: Reuse Greywater Where You Can
Greywater is the lightly used water from your showers, basins, and laundry. Instead of letting it vanish down the drain, you can send it out to the garden.
A greywater system does exactly that. It captures the water and redirects it to your landscaping, which cuts your garden’s reliance on the mains almost entirely. These systems range from simple to fairly involved, so it pays to weigh up your options while the design is still on paper. Get it right, and greywater becomes a serious contributor to your overall savings.
Tip 5: Cover Your Pool or Spa
Got a pool or an outdoor spa? Then evaporation is quietly costing you water every hot day.
A permanent cover fixes this for very little money. It slashes the water lost to evaporation, which really adds up over a long NSW summer, and a bit of shade helps too. BASIX counts pool and spa covers as a genuine water-saving measure, so fitting one supports your target directly. For anyone with a pool, it’s the easiest point on this list to claim.
Why Do These Tips Work Together?
Rarely does one measure get you over the line on its own. The magic is in the mix.
Pair an efficient fixture package with a connected rainwater tank and a water-wise garden, and a 40% reduction comes within comfortable reach. A proper BASIX water efficiency assessment models exactly this combination before a single brick is laid. Seeing how the pieces add up lets you tweak the design while changes still cost next to nothing.
How Do You Get It Right the First Time?
Plan your water measures early. It is the single best thing you can do, because fixing them after the design is locked in gets expensive fast.
This is where the right help earns its keep. Experienced BASIX Consultants run your home through the BASIX tool, try different combinations, and confirm you have hit the target before anything is submitted. They also take care of the paperwork, like that landscape plan for low-water species, so nothing stalls your approval.
Getting your BASIX Certificate approved on the first attempt saves time, money, and a good deal of stress.
Meet Your Water Target With Confidence
It really comes down to a handful of smart choices: efficient fixtures, a rainwater tank, a water-wise garden, greywater reuse, and a pool cover. Plan them together and early, and that 40% saving stops looking like a hurdle.
If you want your new home to pass the first time, a little expert input removes the guesswork completely. Talk to the accredited BASIX Consultants at Eco Certificates about your water efficiency plan and lock in your approval with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BASIX water target for a new home?
New NSW homes must use up to 40% less potable water than the state average, measured against a benchmark of 90,340 litres per person a year. The exact target depends on your climate zone.
What is a WELS rating?
It is a water-efficiency label from zero to six stars for taps, showerheads, and toilets. More stars mean less water used, which helps you meet your BASIX target faster.
Does a rainwater tank help meet BASIX?
Yes, significantly. Connecting a tank to your toilets, laundry, or garden cuts your mains water use and is one of the strongest single measures for hitting your target.
Do I need a landscape plan for BASIX?
Often, yes. If you nominate low-water or native plants to earn water savings, you may need to submit a landscape plan listing the specific species you will plant.
