Residential fees and charges
New prices for water and wastewater services apply from 1 July 2025. As our region grows and our climate becomes more unpredictable, a safe and secure water supply is more important than ever.
The new prices balance the need to continue providing high quality water and wastewater services, while ensuring equity for future bill-payers and future generations.
View IPART's Final Report for Hunter Water's prices from 2025 to 2030
-
Here's what to expect
While price increases are never ideal, the new prices offer customers greater control over their bills by encouraging efficient water use at home.
From 1 July 2025, the water usage price will increase from $2.89 to $4.40 per kilolitre by the 2029–30 financial year.
For a typical household receiving both water and wastewater services:
- 2025–26: Bills will increase by an average of $86 (6.9%), including inflation.
- 2026–30: Bills will rise by an average of $53 (3.8%) per year, plus inflation.
This means the average household bill will increase from $1,241 in 2024–25 to approximately $1,540 by 2029–30, excluding inflation.
-
What will the costs go towards?
Most of the revenue we receive is used to make sure that safe, clean drinking water comes out of your tap and that the used water that goes down your drains is taken away to be treated to protect the health of our waterways.
- Providing clear and clean water
- Providing reliable wastewater services
- Looking after customers in need
- Future-proofing our region's water supply
- Maintaining our precious water sources
- Creating a sustainable future
-
How did we come to this price change?
We submit a pricing proposal to Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) every five years which is then assessed by them to ensure safe, reliable services are provided at a fair price.
More than 8,000 customers, community members and stakeholders helped shape our pricing proposal over the past two years. They identified the key areas of keeping bills affordable; looking after customers in need, providing clear and clean water, and providing reliable wastewater services.
From the community's input, we have balanced providing reliable, high-quality water and wastewater services with creating a positive legacy for future generations and keeping prices affordable.
Understanding your charges
Your water bill includes a combination of service charges and usage charges. These may vary depending on your water use, your property type and whether you are connected to sewer and stormwater services.
Some usage charges may change during drought response periods.
To view the charges that apply to your property, use the links below.
-
Residential house connected to water and sewer
A house with a single connection to water and sewer is charged for:
- water service
- sewer service
- water usage
Service charges are paid in advance and spread across each billing cycle.
Water usage charges are paid in arrears, based on your water meter reading.
Charge type Amount Frequency / unit Water service charge
$32.85
per year
Water usage charge –
non-drought response days
$3.27
per kL / 1000 litres
Water usage charge - drought response days
$3.82
per kL / 1000 litres
Sewer service charge
$816.19
per year
Stormwater drainage charge*
$112.26
per year
* only applies if your property is within a Hunter Water stormwater drainage area.
-
Residential house connected to water only
A house with a single connection to water only is charged for:
- water service
- water usage
Service charges are paid in advance and spread across each billing cycle.
Water usage charges are paid in arrears, based on your water meter reading.
Charge type Amount Frequency / unit Water service charge
$32.85
per year
Water usage charge –
non-drought response days
$3.27
per kL / 1000 litres
Water usage charge - drought response days
$3.82
per kL / 1000 litres
Stormwater drainage charge*
$112.26
per year
*only applies if your property is within a Hunter Water stormwater drainage area.
-
Residential house connected to water, sewer and recycled water
A house with a single connection to water and sewer is charged for:
- water service
- sewer service
- water usage
If your property has dual reticulation, you will also be charged for:
- recycled water service
- recycled water usage
Service charges are paid in advance and spread across each billing cycle.
Water usage charges are paid in arrears, based on your water meter reading.
Charge type Amount Frequency / unit Water service charge
$32.85
per year
Water usage charge
$3.27
per kL / 1000 litres
Sewer service charge
$816.19
per year
Recycled water usage charge
$2.94
per kL / 1000 litres
Hunter Water currently has two dual reticulation schemes:
- Gillieston Heights
- Thornton North (Chisholm)
-
Residential flat, unit or townhouse connected to water and sewer
A flat, unit or townhouse with a connection to water and sewer is charged for:
- water service
- sewer service
- water usage
Service charges are paid in advance and spread across each billing cycle.
Water usage charges are paid in arrears, based on your water meter reading if individually metered, or your share of the main meter if not.
Charge type Amount Frequency / unit Water service charge
$32.85
per year
Water usage charge –
non-drought response days
$3.27
per kL / 1000 litres
Water usage charge - drought response days
$3.82
per kL / 1000 litres
Sewer service charge
$778.46
per year
Drainage charge*
$41.54
per year
*only applies if your property is within a Hunter Water stormwater drainage area.
Except where noted, our services and charges – including water, sewer and usage charges – are GST-free. Find out what each charge means
We're here to support you
We understand that price changes may further contribute to the financial pressures affecting many of our customers.
If you’re having trouble paying your water bill or want to explore tools to better manage your payments, we have support options available for you.
Account and billing ancillary fees
-
Bank authority
Item Fee (incl GST) Bank authority - payment dishonour fee (eg direct debit)
$7.33
-
Billing record search statement
Item GST Free Over the phone – 2017 to current day
$31.70
Electronic – prior to 2017 $49.30 For multiple properties (per hour)
$105.00
Definition of charges
-
Residential water charges – non-drought response days
Water charges for residential customers include:
- a base water service charge for operating the water system
- a water usage charge based on the amount of water used
Usage is measured in kilolitres (kL).
-
Residential water charges – drought response days
During periods of drought, the water usage charge increases to
- reward people for saving water when it matters most
- reflect the extra costs associated with drought related activities
What triggers a drought response
A drought response is triggered 31 days after water storage levels fall below 60 per cent and remains in place until 31 days after levels rise above 70 per cent.
Hunter Water storage levels
We monitor and update current water storage levels daily on our website. Our customers will be notified if the drought response usage charge is introduced.
-
Residential sewer charges
Proper disposal of sewage and wastewater is just as important as supplying quality water. The sewer charge for residential customers is a base sewer service charge that covers most of the costs of operating the sewer system.
-
Stormwater drainage charges
Hunter Water maintains stormwater networks in parts of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Cessnock local government areas to help prevent flooding in high-impact areas.
We typically own and manage the large, concrete stormwater drains, while the smaller drains are the responsibility of local councils.
Only properties located in catchments connected to Hunter Water’s stormwater drains are charged for stormwater drainage.
-
Recycled water charges
Recycled water (also known as dual reticulation) means your property is supplied with both standard drinking water and recycled water.
Hunter Water currently operates two dual reticulation schemes – at Gillieston Heights and Thornton North (Chisholm).
If your property is part of a dual reticulation scheme, you will also be charged a recycled water service fee and a recycled water usage fee, in addition to standard water and sewer charges.