The use of rainwater tanks by Australian households continues to increase, according to the latest report by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Twenty six per cent of households used a rainwater tank as a source of water in March 2010, up from 19 per cent in 2007.

Almost half (49 per cent) of South Australian households used a rainwater tank, followed by Queensland (36 per cent) and Victoria (30 per cent).

The Northern Territory had the lowest proportion of households (5 per cent) that used a rainwater tank.Over the past three years, the greatest increase in rainwater tank use was in Queensland and Victoria.

Of households living in a dwelling suitable for a rainwater tank, the percentage that have a rainwater tank installed has increased from 24 per cent in 2007 to 32 per cent in 2010.

Brisbane had the largest increase of households that have a rainwater tank at their dwelling, from 18 per cent in 2007 to 43 per cent in 2010.The proportion of households residing at a dwelling less than one year old that have a rainwater tank installed has risen to 57 per cent in 2010, compared with 26 per cent in 2007.