Your Water Notice

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Livingstone Shire Council issue water notices each quarter (every three months).

The notices contain water consumption charges based on the reading of council's water meter installed on your property. Council’s annual water access charge is included in the rates notices, not in your water usage notice.

Notices are addressed to the owner of the property. Residents are encouraged to assist in making this process as efficient as possible by properly maintaining access to the water meter.

Understanding your water bill

The below Q&A is designed to help you understand your water bill and how to monitor your water usage.

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  • Council has adopted two types of water charges; a water access charge and a water consumption charge. These combined charges cover the costs related to water supply such as operating costs, maintenance, upgrade and expansion costs, and depreciation. This tariff structure is in line with Queensland and Australian Government recommendations on water charging.

    1. Water Access Charge: The water access charge is a fixed charge and is charged each 6-month period on your general rates notice. It applies to all properties that are connected to or able to connect to the town water supply. Broadly this charge covers the cost of access to the water supply and maintenance of the water network.
       
    2. Water Consumption Charge: To encourage responsible use of water, consumption is charged on a multi-tier system so that the more water you use, the more you pay. Consumption is charged per kilolitre (kL) and divided into two tiers each 3 month period. Broadly the water consumption price covers the variable costs including treatment and transporting of water.

    As per the 2024/2025 Revenue Statement, water consumption is charged each quarter based on the below tiered pricing:

    Residential 

    Graduated water usage tiers per quarter (per meter):

     

    Tier 1

    Up to 90kL

    $1.33/kL

     

    Tier 2

    All usage greater than 90kL

    $3.11/kL

    Non Residential

    Single tier flat rate:

     

    Single Tier

    All usage

    $3.11/kL

  • The price paid for water used at your property is reflected on your water bill and varies depending on how many kilolitres of water you use per quarter. Your total billed amount is calculated based on the three-tiered quarterly consumption charges and how many kilolitres of water you used (1kL = 1000 litres).

    Your water bill may vary each quarter depending on the exact number of days in your water meter-reading period, dry or wet seasonal conditions, number of people in your household/extra visitors to your home, swimming pools or leaks. Residents who use water efficiently are rewarded with lower charges.

  • If you consider the reading on your Water Usage Notice is excessive, you can conduct tests at home to assess if the meter is accurately recording consumption or if you have an internal leak that may be the cause of the high usage.

    If you think there may be a leak in your internal pipes (all pipes on the property side of the meter), refer to Council’s Concealed Leak Refund/Waiver page for further information.

    If you believe the leak is not internal and you wish to have your water meter tested by Council, you will need to submit an application and pay the relevant fee. You can lodge the application via Council's online services or download the Water Meter Verification Test form  and lodge manually. You can conduct your own consumption test, which may assist you in deciding if you would like to request Council to conduct a test on your water meter.

    Conducting a Consumption Test

    To conduct your own consumption test complete the following:

    • Turn off all taps to ensure no water is being used (do NOT turn off the meter tap).
    • Take a reading of the water meter.
    • Fill a container of known volume (e.g. 200L drum).
    • Take another reading of the water meter and calculate the amount of water used.

    The difference between the two readings should be approximately equal to the capacity of the container.

    This consumption test is for your information only. The results of this test will not be acted upon by Council.

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