Why are there different water rates?

Water usage charges are billed per kilolitre, reflecting the actual amount of water you use. Every quarter, a fee is applied for your access to the water supply service, covering the period specified on your Water Account Notice, and is calculated based on the consumption shown by the meter(s) at your property. 

Prorata Water Charges

The price of water changes on 1 July every year. For bills that straddle two financial years, the water charges will be prorated. This means that irrespective of when their meter is read, each property will have 365 days at each annual rate. It also means that water used in a particular year will be charged at that year’s prices.

When a customer receives a bill, which falls across two financial years. Their bill includes the following information:

Water Usage this bill: 50 kilolitres (kls)

Days this bill: 87 days Billing period: 07/04/2026 -03/07/2026

To ensure this customer is charged fairly, water used in 84 days will be charged at the 2025/26 prices. Water used in the remaining 3 days will be charged at 2026-27 prices (as shown below).

Rates.png

Because your water meter is not read every day, we use a daily average figure to calculate the charges.

For example - 0.57471 x 84 days in 2025/26 = 48.27 kls 

48.27kls x $3.66 = $176.69

0.57471 x 3 days in 2026/27 = 1.72 kls 

1.72 x $3.79 - $6.53

The total ($176.69 + $6.53) = $183.22

Residential Customers  

The water usage charge for residential customers is based on a two-step tariff, or tier, using the consumption recorded on the water meter(s).  

  • Tier 1: For water usage less than 1 Kilolitre (KL) per day  
  • Tier 2: For water usage greater than 1 KL per day  

Non-Residential Customers 

The water usage charge for non-residential customers is based on a single tariff, using the consumption recorded on the water meter(s). 

The rates for the 2026/27 financial year are: 

Residential Tier 1 - $3.79 per kilolitre 

Residential Tier 2 - $5.69 per kilolitre 

Non-Residential - $3.79 per kilolitre 

The rates for the 2025/26 financial year were: 

Residential Tier 1 - $3.66 per kilolitre 

Residential Tier 2 - $5.49 per kilolitre 

Non-Residential - $3.66 per kilolitre 

 

 

Back to top