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Your water bill

All properties (including vacant land) that are connected to or are within 225 metres of a Council water main are required to pay water rates and charges.

The standard residential meter cannot be larger than 20mm.

Council’s water charges structure complies with the Regulatory and Assurance Framework for Local Water Utilities issued by the Department of Planning and Environment. Under this framework, and to be eligible for a government subsidy, Council must have a ‘user pays’ system, so high-volume water users will pay more than those who use less.

Water access charges

Your annual access charge helps fund construction and maintenance of treatment plants, pumping stations and general operations for Eurobodalla's water supply.

All property owners pay this contribution, including vacant land because the infrastructure is available if needed. These charges are included in your rates notice. Your rates notice is sent in July every year, with payments due in August, November, February and May.

Water usage charges

Your water usage bill is sent in April, August and December each year after your meter has been read. Every drop of water that passes through your meter is charged (this is known as a 'user pays' system) at a rate of $4.00 per 1,000 litres for the 2023/24 billing period following the July 2023 reading.

Sewage charges

All properties (including vacant land and those with an on-site pressure sewage system installed by Council) that are connected to or are within 75 metres of a Council sewer main, must pay sewer rates. Sewer rates are included in your general rates notices sent out in July each year, with payments due in August, November, February and May.

Residential premises pay an annual access charge, and non-residential premises pay an annual access charge plus a usage charge based on a proportion of their water use.

Sewer usage charges are listed on your water usage account.

Water meter replacement program

Water meters are mechanical devices and with age they wear and reduce in accuracy. In most cases, the error will be in favour of the customer as some of the flow passes through the meter undetected due to worn clearances and/or a fouled mechanism, particularly at low flows. We have found that some older meters can read as much as 20% less than a new meter. A customer with an older meter can pay less for the same amount of water consumed as a customer with a new meter which is reading accurately. This is not a question of lost revenue as Council sets the water usage price to recover the long-term running costs of the water supply system, but is a question of equity.

Water meter companies and water utilities have carried out significant sampling and testing to determine the optimum age or usage to prompt replacement.

Since August 2013, Council has been undertaking a water meter replacement program replacing standard 20mm water meters when they reach 10-12 years of age or exceed usage of 5,000 Kilolitres. There are approximately 18,000 water meters in the system and we are replacing about 2000 (including approximately 500 failed meters) per annum. Once the program is complete, replacing water meters at 10-12 years or 5,000 kilolitres will become routine.

There is no charge to you if your property's water meter is replaced as part of this program. New water meters provide accurate readings and quality information about usage. They also make leak detection easier.