Canberra is the capital of Australia and is home to over 400,000 people. The city gets its water from several sources, including the Cotter Dam, Googong Dam, and Bendora Dam. In this blog post, we will discuss the average water bill in Canberra and what factors affect how much you pay each month. We will also provide some tips on how to reduce your water bill!
Water Cost Components
The average residential water and sewerage bill in the ACT is $172.50 per quarter or $58.33 a month, which equates to $29.16 per week. This is based on the usage of 200 kilolitres (kl) of water per quarter, with the cost increasing for every extra kl used.
Water charges make up the vast majority of your quarterly bill at 87%, with the remaining 13% made up of sewerage and trade waste charges. In addition, your water usage is metered, so you only pay for the water you use, unlike other utilities such as gas and electricity, where you are charged a set amount regardless of how much you actually use.
Canberra’s tap water quality is among the best in Australia and is regularly tested to ensure it meets Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
The cost of water in Canberra is made up of two main components: the fixed charge and the variable charge.
The fixed charge is a set amount that you are charged each quarter, regardless of how much water you use. This charge covers the costs of maintaining the city’s water infrastructure, such as pipes and pumps. It also pays for customer services, like reading meters and billing. In Canberra, the fixed charge is $67.40 per quarter or $22.47 per month.
The variable charge is based on how much water you use each quarter. In Canberra, the variable charges are:
$0.693 per kilolitre (kl) for the first 200 kl
$0.866 per kl for the next 300 kl
$0.987 per kl for any water used above 500 kl
This means that if you use 200 kl of water in a quarter, your variable charges will be $138.60. However, if you use 400 kl in a quarter, your variable charges will be $233.20.
Average Water Costs
The average household water usage in Canberra is 140 kl per quarter, which costs about $123.40 per quarter or $41.13 per month. However, this number will vary depending on the size of your household, how often you use water and other factors.
If you want to find out how much your specific household spends on water each quarter, you can check your most recent bill or contact Icon Water, which is the utility company that supplies water to Canberra homes.
To put these numbers into perspective, let’s compare the cost of water in Canberra to other Australian cities. The average water bill in Melbourne is $38 per week, while the average water bill in Sydney is $40.50 per week. This means that, on average, Canberra residents pay about $11.66 less per week for water than people living in Melbourne and $28.34 less than those living in Sydney!
Of course, these numbers will vary depending on the specific circumstances of each household. For example, a family of four who uses a lot of water for cooking, cleaning, and bathing will have a higher water bill than a single person who only uses water for drinking and occasional laundry.
Tips for Reducing Your Bills
There are a few simple things you can do to reduce your water usage and lower your quarterly water bill. For example, you can:
- Install water-saving showerheads or taps: These devices help to reduce the amount of water used without sacrificing quality or performance. You can find them at most hardware stores.
- Fix leaks: A leaky tap can waste up to 30 litres of water per day, so it’s important to fix any leaks as soon as possible.
- Take shorter showers: This is an easy way to save water, especially if you have a family. Encourage everyone in your household to take shorter showers (five minutes or less).
- Only run the dishwasher and washing machine when they’re full: This will help to reduce the amount of water and energy used.
- Water your garden during the cooler hours of the day: Water evaporates more quickly in warm weather, so watering early in the morning or evening can help to reduce wastage.
Conclusion
Water is an essential part of our everyday lives, but it’s also important to be mindful of how much water we use. The cost of water in Canberra is relatively affordable when compared to other Australian cities, but there are still ways to save water and lower your quarterly bills. By following the tips above, you can help to reduce your water usage and save money!
