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How residential charges work
Understand your water and wastewater service charges and how to read your meter.
Your monthly water use charges
We charge per 1,000 litres of water used (kilolitres).
Your property’s water use is recorded by a mechanical water meter. This meter is read every second month. In between, we estimate your property’s water use based on your previous consumption. If we over or under estimate your property’s water use one month, your next bill – based on an actual meter reading – will correct this.
Some properties have smart meters that send data to our secure database daily. These properties receive bills based on their actual water use every month.
Need help reading your bill? Follow the link below.
Wastewater charges
Wastewater charges
Fixed wastewater charge If your property has a water meter and wastewater connection, you will pay a fixed charge for maintaining the public wastewater network. This applies whether or not your property is occupied.
We spread the annual fixed charge across the year. You can see the number of days for the billing period on your bill.
If your property has a water meter and wastewater connection, you will pay a fixed charge for maintaining the public wastewater network. This applies whether or not your property is occupied.
We spread the annual fixed charge across the year. You can see the number of days for the billing period on your bill.
Volumetric wastewater charge We calculate your wastewater volume at 78.5 per cent of your water use.
This assumes that, on average, 78.5 per cent of the water that enters your home goes down the drain via showers, baths, washing machines, dishwashers, toilets, or sinks.
If you have a secondary water supply, such as a rain tank, you may want to consider installing a separate water meter.
We calculate your wastewater volume at 78.5 per cent of your water use.
This assumes that, on average, 78.5 per cent of the water that enters your home goes down the drain via showers, baths, washing machines, dishwashers, toilets, or sinks.
If you have a secondary water supply, such as a rain tank, you may want to consider installing a separate water meter.
Allowance for outdoor activities We do not apply wastewater charges for 21.5 per cent of the water entering your property. This applies year-round, and comfortably covers drinking water as well as outdoor activities, such as:
- Watering the garden
- Washing a car or boat
- Waterblasting the house
We do not apply wastewater charges for 21.5 per cent of the water entering your property. This applies year-round, and comfortably covers drinking water as well as outdoor activities, such as:
- Watering the garden
- Washing a car or boat
- Waterblasting the house
Residential charges
Residential charges
Current year charges Our residential water and wastewater service charges and infrastructure growth charges are updated annually on July 1.
Our residential water and wastewater service charges and infrastructure growth charges are updated annually on July 1.
Past years’ charges
Your customer contract
When you become a Watercare customer, you automatically contract with us. Your contract is a legally binding document that we update annually on July 1. In it, you’ll find:
- the terms under which we provide water and wastewater services to you
- your responsibility to pay for these services
- price schedules for residential customers
- terms and conditions for infrastructure growth charges
- your rights in any dispute with us.
Our customer promise
We promise to deliver water and wastewater services you can trust.
This means we’ll always provide you with safe drinking water and treat your wastewater to protect the environment. Not only that, but you can expect us to treat you with respect and take your feedback seriously. This has always been our focus – and we hope you’ll hold us accountable for delivering on it.
Our customer promise reflects the expectations our customers have shared of their water company. For example, they understand that sometimes things go wrong, but they measure us on how effectively and efficiently we respond to those situations. They also want to be informed of issues that impact them – not just once, but throughout the process.
Our promise strives to acknowledge these and many other customer expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for my water pipes? We own and are responsible for repairing and maintaining the pipes and meters on our side of the point of supply. Homeowners own and are responsible for repairing and maintaining the pipes on their side of the point of supply. Click here for more information.
We own and are responsible for repairing and maintaining the pipes and meters on our side of the point of supply. Homeowners own and are responsible for repairing and maintaining the pipes on their side of the point of supply. Click here for more information.
Why are apartments charged at 95% for wastewater? We normally base residential wastewater charges on 78.5 per cent of the volume of water used on the property. This leaves an allowance of 21.5 per cent for typical outdoor activities such as watering the garden or washing the car, where the water does not enter the wastewater network.
Residents in apartment complexes don’t typically use water for these activities – most water they use drains directly into the wastewater network. There is an allowance of 5 per cent for outdoor activities in apartments.
We normally base residential wastewater charges on 78.5 per cent of the volume of water used on the property. This leaves an allowance of 21.5 per cent for typical outdoor activities such as watering the garden or washing the car, where the water does not enter the wastewater network.
Residents in apartment complexes don’t typically use water for these activities – most water they use drains directly into the wastewater network. There is an allowance of 5 per cent for outdoor activities in apartments.
Related content
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