The urban water sector provides Victoria’s cities and towns with: safe and secure drinking water, manages and treats wastewater, and helps protect the urban environment from floods.

Water corporations are expected to participate in Integrated Water Management Forums to work with community, local government, catchment management authorities and Traditional Owners on regional priorities that have liveability benefits.

Cross-government cooperation on water management helps create water sensitive and climate resilient cities, healthy people, landscapes and bays.

Water's role in resilient and liveable cities and towns

Water’s role in resilient and liveable cities and towns Safe, secure and affordable supplies in an uncertain future Effective and affordable wastewater systems Effective stormwater management protects our urban environment Healthy and valued urban landscapes Community values reflected in place based planning.
Water for Victoria 2016
Water's role in resilient and liveable cities and towns

Water’s role in resilient and liveable cities and towns

Left to right icons:

  • Safe, secure and affordable supplies in an uncertain future
  • Effective and affordable wastewater systems
  • Effective stormwater management protects our urban environment
  • Healthy and valued urban landscapes
  • Community values reflected in place based planning
Water's role in resilient and liveable cities and town

Liveability also includes affordability and support for vulnerable customers, so it is important that water corporations maintain downward pressure on prices and lower water bills.

The average household bill for Water and Sewerage usage for major urban centres during the financial year 2021-2022.

Average household bills 2021 - 2022 for major urban centres

Average residential bills across major urban centres. Darwin has highest average bill, whereas Melbourne lowest. Centre names and amount in order of high to low, Darwin: 1902, Perth:1620, South East Queensland:1483, Adelaide:1107, Canberra:1089, Sydney:1027, Melbourne:976
Water corporations performance data set, Bureau of Meteorlogy 2022
Average household bills 2021 - 2022 for major urban centres

The average household bills for Water and Sewerage for major uban centres during the financial year 2021-2022.

Note: No data was available for Hobart. Data is only available on an aggregated basis for the for the whole State of Tasmania.* Weighted retail utility average.

Average household bills 2021-2022 for all major urban centres.

Average residential bills across major urban Centres.

Darwin has the highest average bill, whereas Melbourne has the lowest.

Centre names and amounts in order of high to low

  • Darwin: $1902
  • Perth: $1620
  • South East Queensland: $1483
  • Adelaide: $1107
  • Canberra: $1089
  • Sydney: $1027
  • Melbourne: $976
Average household bills 2021 - 2022 for major urban centres

The average household bill for Water and Sewerage for all urban areas for each State during the financial year 2021-2022.

Note: No data is available for Hobart. Data is only available on an aggregated basis for the for the whole State of Tasmania. *Weighted retail utility average.

Average household bills 2021 - 2022 for all urban areas

Average household bills across all urban areas. NT $1,948, QLD $1,528, NSW $1,494, WA $1,281, TAS $1,232, VIC $1,094, ACT $1,089, SA $1,059. The average household bill for water and sewerage for all urban areas for each state during the financial year 2021- 2022
Water corporations performance data set, Bureau of Meteorology 2022
Average household bills 2021 - 2022 for all urban areas

The average household bill for Water and Sewerage for all urban areas for each State during the financial year 2021-22.

Average household bills across all urban areas.

  • NT $1,948
  • QLD $1,528
  • NSW $1,494
  • WA $1,281
  • TAS $1,232
  • VIC $1,094
  • ACT $1,089
  • SA $1,059

The average household bill for water and sewerage for all urban areas for each state during the financial year 2021- 2022.

Average household bills 2021 - 2022 for all urban areas

Better management will help us achieve benefits more efficiently and contribute to an affordable urban water sector.

Victoria will use the best mix of traditional and local solutions to get the most out of infrastructure and investment.

Volumes of effluent re-used in Victoria (ML)

Megalitres of effluent water reused in Victoria, from financial year 2017-18 to 2021-22. From oldest to newest, 2017-18: 102,059; 2018-19: 100,336; 2019-20: 81,923; 2020-21: 86,973; 2021-22:81,436
Essential Services Commission 2021-2022
Volumes of effluent re-used in Victoria (ML)

Megalitres of effluent water reused in Victoria, from financial year 2017-18 to 2021-22.

From oldest to newest,

  • 2017-18: 102,059
  • 2018-19: 100,336
  • 2019-20: 81,923
  • 2020-21: 86,973
  • 2021-22: 81,436
ESC data summary 2021 - 2022 water performance report effluent water reuse

We’ll keep this page updated with progress on creating efficiencies and maximising the benefits for all users from the way we manage our water resources.

There will also be a continued focus on affordability and supporting vulnerable customers. By communicating clear performance information from across the industry, the government can ensure that the Victorian water sector is providing the best possible service to the community.

Page last updated: 04/10/23