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State bulk water charge


Unitywater purchases bulk water from the State Government to supply to our customers, and we are legally required to pass the cost of this water on to our customers in full.

The price of bulk water is set by the State Government and Unitywater has no control over this pricing.  All bulk water charges are passed back to the State Government and we do not profit from this charge.

If you would like more information about the State Government Bulk Water Charge, please visit the Department of Energy and Water Supply.


This is a variable charge based on the amount of water that is consumed on your property and determined by the reading from your water meter. It is charged per kilolitre (1000 litres) of water used.

More information on pricing for your region.


North Pine Dam

Water access charge

 

Properties that have been provided with access to the water supply network (connected or unconnected) pay this charge. It contributes to building, maintaining and replacing water mains, pipes, reservoirs, hydrants and other water infrastructure. These fixed access charges also contribute to the 24-hour emergency response service we provide to our customers 365 days a year.

If you own vacant land in an area that is serviced by the water network, you will be billed for fixed water access charges for that property.


Access charges are fixed, annual fees charged at a daily price for the number of days in your billing period.

More information on pricing for your region.

Unitywater Reservoir Point Cartwright

Sewerage access charge

 

Properties that have been provided with access to the sewerage network (connected or unconnected) pay this charge. It contributes to building, maintaining and replacing sewer pipes, sewage pump stations, sewage treatment plants and other sewerage infrastructure. These fixed access charges also contribute to the 24-hour emergency response service we provide to our customers 365 days a year.

If you own vacant land in an area that is serviced by the sewerage network, you will be billed for fixed sewerage access charges for that property.


Access charges are fixed, annual fees charged at a daily price for the number of days in your billing period.

More information on pricing for your region.

Female engineer at Unitywater Sewage Treatment Plant, Nambour

Water usage charge

 

This charge contributes to the costs associated with storing and maintaining water after we purchase it from the State Government, and making sure that high-quality, food-grade water is delivered to all of our customers on demand. This charge also contributes to the 24-hour emergency response service we provide to our customers 365 days a year.

 

This is a variable charge based on the amount of water that is consumed on your property and determined by the reading from your water meter. It is charged per kilolitre (1000 litres) of water used. This charge is tiered for residential customers, so high water users pay a little more:

  • For average daily water usage up to 822 litres per day, you pay the Tier 1 charge.
  • For any average daily usage amount over 822 litres per day, you pay the Tier 2 charge for that amount.

More information on pricing for your region.

Woman handing child a glass of water

Sewerage usage charge

 

This is a charge for the amount of sewage (waste and greywater) you put into the sewerage network via the sinks, drains, toilets and appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers.

It is effectively a charge for your 'use' of Unitywater's sewerage services, as it pays for the treatment and disposal of your sewage, which is transported by sewer pipes and pump stations to our sewage treatment plants. Your sewage is put through stringent cleansing processes to ensure that its disposal is safe for our community and the environment, and complies with very strict environmental legislation. 

This charge also contributes to the 24-hour emergency response service we provide to our customers 365 days a year.

Find out more about what happens after you flush.

 

Sewerage usage is a variable charge because it is based on the amount of water used at your property. As there is no meter to measure the amount of sewage, it is calculated as being 90% of your average daily water usage (as measured by your water meter), and is charged at the price per kilolitre (1000 litres).

In other words, we estimate that 90% of the water that comes out of your taps, shower, bath, toilet, dishwasher and washing machine goes into the sewer network. This charge is capped when sewerage usage reaches 740 litres per day for residential customers. The cap limits the impact on high water users and anyone who may have a concealed leak on their property.

More information on pricing for your region.

 

Number of people in household
(based on average water usage of 168 litres per person per day)

Cost per day to remove, treat and dispose of waste

1 person

10 cents per day

2 people

20 cents per day

3 people

30 cents per day

4 people

40 cents per day
(that’s just $146.00 per year)

Sewerage usage for residential customers is capped at 740 litres per day to limit the impact on high water users and anyone who may have a concealed leak on their property

49.4 cents is the maximum daily usage charge any household will pay for removing, treating and disposing of waste.

As well as removing and treating sewage for you, we build, maintain and replace the sewer pipes, sewage pump stations, sewage treatment plants and other sewage infrastructure for less than $2 per day. This is what your sewerage access charges on the bill pay for.

Young boy flushing toilet in bathroom of residential house

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