Average Water Bill In Australia

If you have just moved house in Australia, you might be wondering what you will be expected to pay based on your location and provider, especially if you've relocated to a new state. Having a standard to compare to is always helpful when working out how much of your budget you need to set aside for your water bill. In this article, we explain what the average water bill is in Australia and look at some of the factors that impact this.

It has been found that the average water bill in Australia (per quarter) is $288. However, this amount isn't universal and is impacted by a number of factors, including where you live. The average water bill per state is as follows:

It shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that water costs more in certain Australian states than it does in others. Perhaps the biggest factor impacting this is local climate conditions, which can affect a resident’s water usage drastically, particularly in summer when they might be using more fluids to regulate their body temperatures and keep themselves cool.

There are a number of factors that impact how much you pay for water, including: 

• The size of your household: This can impact how much you pay by a considerable amount. For five people in a household, the average quarterly bill is around $372. For one person, this amount is significantly lower, with single-person households paying around $200 on average. 
  
• How much water is used and how often: Hosepipes, sprinklers and outdoor taps consume some of the highest amounts of water, so if you have these turned on regularly, you can expect to face a larger bill. Similarly, a leak in any of your pipes could increase this sum.
  
• Wage: Whilst this doesn't have a huge impact, it's worth noting that you can be asked to pay a few extra dollars per payment if you earn over a certain amount per year. Those who earn within the $30,000 to $50,000 range will have to pay an average of $50 more than someone who earns below this amount.
  
• Age: When you reach the age of 70, you are entitled to much lower water rates, typically in the $100-$200 range.

The average water bill is made up of several costs, including:

• Water supply charges: This is the amount of water you use. It covers your usage (showering, drinking, washing etc) as well as anything that goes down the drain.
  
• Wastewater charges: This refers to any wastewater that a business or home generates. Essentially, it's any liquid that doesn’t contain human waste or toilet paper.
  
• Water treatment charges: This usually makes up a very small percentage of your bill and covers the cost of treating drinking water so that contaminants are removed.
  
• Sewerage user charges: This is a fixed fee that is calculated on a per-capita basis. It is paid to the water authority for the use of sewerage services and covers the cost of maintaining the necessary infrastructure.
  
• Stormwater drainage charges: This charge covers the cost of filtering stormwater runoff, which could be contaminated by chemicals or litter. 

For support with all your plumbing needs, contact our friendly team today at TJM Plumbing. We're more than happy to talk to you about ways you could potentially lower your own water bills.