Griffith City Council has conducted water meter readings during January and February, capturing data for the 2nd trimester water and sewer accounts for 2025/26. The billing statements will be dispatched in the coming days.
Analysis of the data reveals a notable increase in consumption during this period. This surge is attributed to the extreme heat and drier weather conditions, compared to the previous summer months.
To assist residents in understanding their water and sewer accounts and how they are calculated, Council recommends referring to useful advice provided. Additionally, practical tips on meter checking and reading, along with guidance on addressing high readings or potential leaks, are offered.
Council Director of Utilities, Graham Gordon, recognises the complexity of the information contained in the bills.
"A water bill is made up of three main components – the Water Consumption Charge, which reflects how much water is actually used, along with the Water Access Charge and Sewerage Charge, which are fixed costs for having the service connected," said Mr Gordon.
"The statement shows the difference between your previous and current meter readings and compares it with earlier periods. Usage naturally changes throughout the year, and residents generally see higher figures over summer due to heat, irrigation and increased household demand. This latest billing period (November to February) reflects readings taken in January and February, which are typically among the highest-use months."
Each water bill also has a graph showing the amount of water used for the current billing period (kilolitres) compared to the previous three billing periods.
How is the water usage calculated?
Your water consumption charge is billed with two price steps:
- Up to the first 200 kl is charged at step 1: $0.87 per kilolitre per annum
- Over 200 kl is charged at step 2: $1.86 per kilolitre.
All price details appear on the back of the Water and Sewer notices to assist in understanding how to read your water and sewer account.
Other things to consider:
- It is important not to compare prices with your previous year's bill as pricing changes every year
- Meters are Council property and will be replaced depending on the age of the meter
- Residential Sewer Access is charged per occupancy (tenancy) including separate Granny Flats
- Vacant blocks of land will be charged a Water Meter Access within 225 metres of the main and Sewer Access if within 75 metres of the main.
The Water Consumption Charge is based on the amount of water you use and the Water Access Charge is based on the water meter size to your property. Both are calculated so that Council can recoup the cost of the production (running of the water treatment plant) and delivery (through Council's water main network) of drinking water to the customer. This also applies to the Sewerage Charge, it is charged either as Non-Residential or Residential.
