Pricing, fees and charges

*If your property is within a Hunter Water stormwater drainage area you will also be charged a stormwater drainage charge.

Residential water charges (non-drought response days)

Water charges for residential customers are made up of:

• A base water service charge for operating the water system.
• A water usage charge which is applied to the volume of water used by an individual customer. Usage charges are measured in kilolitres (kL).

Residential water charges (drought response days)

During periods of drought, the water usage charge will increase to reward people for saving water when it matters most and to reflect the extra costs associated with drought related activities. The drought response water usage charge will start 31 days after water storage levels fall below 60% (the “on” trigger) and will remain in place until 31 days after water storage levels rise above 70% (the “the off” trigger).

We publish current storage levels on our website and will communicate if the drought response water usage charge is to be introduced. View current water storage levels.

The same base water service charge for operating the water system applies on drought response days and non drought response days.

Residential sewer charges

Proper disposal of sewage and wastewater is just as important to us as supplying quality water. Sewer charges for residential customers are made up of a base sewer service charge that covers the costs of operating the sewer system.

Stormwater drainage charges

We operate, manage and maintain our stormwater networks in parts of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Cessnock Local Government Areas. Generally, we own the large, concrete stormwater drains while the relevant Councils own and are responsible for the smaller drains. Only properties located in the catchments of Hunter Water's stormwater drains pay drainage charges.

Environmental projects charges

This charge funds an additional $17.3 million for Hunter Water to spend on recycling to irrigate parks, sporting grounds or gardens and stormwater naturalisation projects. These environmental projects contribute to the liveability of our region and were selected on the basis of community feedback. An environmental projects charge of $1.93 per year is applied to each residential property connected to our water network and is included in your water service charge on your bill.

*If your property is within a Hunter Water stormwater drainage area you will also be charged a stormwater drainage charge.

Residential water charges (non-drought response days)

Water charges for residential customers are made up of:

• A base water service charge for operating the water system.
• A water usage charge which is applied to the volume of water used by an individual customer. Usage charges are measured in kilolitres (kL).

Residential water charges (drought response days)

During periods of drought, the water usage charge will increase to reward people for saving water when it matters most and to reflect the extra costs associated with drought related activities. The drought response water usage charge will start 31 days after water storage levels fall below 60% (the “on” trigger) and will remain in place until 31 days after water storage levels rise above 70% (the “the off” trigger).

We publish current storage levels on our website and will communicate if the drought response water usage charge is to be introduced. View current water storage levels.

The same base water service charge for operating the water system applies on drought response days and non drought response days.

Stormwater drainage charges

We operate, manage and maintain our stormwater networks in parts of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Cessnock Local Government Areas. Generally, we own the large, concrete stormwater drains while the relevant Councils own and are responsible for the smaller drains. Only properties located in the catchments of Hunter Water's stormwater drains pay drainage charges.

Environmental projects charges

This charge funds an additional $17.3 million for Hunter Water to spend on recycling to irrigate parks, sporting grounds or gardens and stormwater naturalisation projects. These environmental projects contribute to the liveability of our region and were selected on the basis of community feedback. An environmental projects charge of $1.93 per year is applied to each residential property connected to our water network and is included in your water service charge on your bill.

*If your property is within a Hunter Water stormwater drainage area you will also be charged a stormwater drainage charge.

Residential water charges (non-drought response days)

Water charges for residential customers are made up of:

• A base water service charge for operating the water system.
• A water usage charge which is applied to the volume of water used by an individual customer. Usage charges are measured in kilolitres (kL).

Residential water charges (drought response days)

During periods of drought, the water usage charge will increase to reward people for saving water when it matters most and to reflect the extra costs associated with drought related activities. The drought response water usage charge will start 31 days after water storage levels fall below 60% (the “on” trigger) and will remain in place until 31 days after water storage levels rise above 70% (the “the off” trigger).

We publish current storage levels on our website and will communicate if the drought response water usage charge is to be introduced. View current water storage levels.

The same base water service charge for operating the water system applies on drought response days and non drought response days.

Residential sewer charges

Proper disposal of sewage and wastewater is just as important to us as supplying quality water. Sewer charges for residential customers are made up of a base sewer service charge that covers the costs of operating the sewer system.

Stormwater drainage charges

We operate, manage and maintain our stormwater networks in parts of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Cessnock Local Government Areas. Generally, we own the large, concrete stormwater drains while the relevant Councils own and are responsible for the smaller drains. Only properties located in the catchments of Hunter Water's stormwater drains pay drainage charges.

Environmental projects charges

This charge funds an additional $17.3 million for Hunter Water to spend on recycling to irrigate parks, sporting grounds or gardens and stormwater naturalisation projects. These environmental projects contribute to the liveability of our region and were selected on the basis of community feedback. An environmental projects charge of $1.93 per year is applied to each residential property connected to our water network and is included in your water service charge on your bill.

Hunter Water currently has two dual reticulation schemes, one at Gillieston Heights and the other at Thornton North (Chisholm).

Residential water charges (non-drought response days)

Water charges for residential customers are made up of:

• A base water service charge for operating the water system.
• A water usage charge which is applied to the volume of water used by an individual customer. Usage charges are measured in kilolitres (kL).

Residential water charges (drought response days)

During periods of drought, the water usage charge will increase to reward people for saving water when it matters most and to reflect the extra costs associated with drought related activities. The drought response water usage charge will start 31 days after water storage levels fall below 60% (the “on” trigger) and will remain in place until 31 days after water storage levels rise above 70% (the “the off” trigger).

We publish current storage levels on our website and will communicate if the drought response water usage charge is to be introduced. View current water storage levels.

The same base water service charge for operating the water system applies on drought response days and non drought response days.

Residential sewer charges

Proper disposal of sewage and wastewater is just as important to us as supplying quality water. Sewer charges for residential customers are made up of:

• A base sewer service charge that covers most of the costs of operating the sewer system.
• An environmental improvement charge, which contributes to the cost of providing sewerage to established but unsewered areas in the Lower Hunter.

Drainage charges

We strive to prevent flooding in areas that are high-impact by maintaining reliable stormwater drainage. Only properties located in the catchments of Hunter Water's stormwater drains pay drainage charges.

Recycled water charges

Recycled water (Dual reticulation) is where properties are supplied with or have access to standard drinking water and recycled water. Hunter Water currently has two dual reticulation schemes, one at Gillieston Heights and the other at Thornton North (Chisholm).

In addition to the standard water and sewer service charges, dual reticulation customers pay a recycled water service charge and a recycled water usage charge.

Environmental projects charges

This charge funds an additional $17.3 million for Hunter Water to spend on recycling to irrigate parks, sporting grounds or gardens and stormwater naturalisation projects. These environmental projects contribute to the liveability of our region and were selected on the basis of community feedback. An environmental projects charge of $1.93 per year is applied to each residential property connected to our water network and is included in your water service charge on your bill.

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has introduced a drought price for the first time. This means that if water storages drop below 60 per cent total capacity.

The price increase rewards people for saving water when it matters most. While there’s a low chance of the drought price being applied, a 15 per cent reduction in water use would fully offset the costs, if it were to be introduced. The price also reflects extra costs associated with delivering water during periods of drought such as higher treatment costs associated with the operation of the Tomago Sandbeds and increased water conservation initiatives.

An Environment Improvement Charge (EIC) of $41.01 will no longer apply from 1 July 2020. This charge has previously been levied on all customers in Hunter Water’s area of operations whose properties were connected to the wastewater system (also known as the sewer system), to support the expansion of our wastewater network. As there are other ways to potentially fund backlog sewer schemes, the charge has been removed.

This charge funds an additional $17.3 million for Hunter Water to spend on recycling to irrigate parks, sporting grounds or gardens, as well as stormwater naturalisation projects. This charge will amount to an annual charge of $1.93 in 2021/22 for residential customers.