Fees and charges
What your bill pays for
Your bill is made up of fees and charges for water and wastewater services we provide to customers across the Barwon Water region.
Your bill pays for the supply of safe, high-quality drinking water, the safe removal and treatment of wastewater, and the building and maintenance of infrastructure to deliver these essential services.
The diagram below illustrates a breakdown of how your bill pays for the essential services we provide, including:
- safe, high-quality drinking water
- reliable wastewater treatment and disposal
- safe recycled water
- 24/7 fault and emergency response and daily operations to ensure reliable services
- critical infrastructure such as our reservoirs and water storage tanks, water treatment plants, water reclamation plants, pumping stations, class A recycled water plants and around 8,000km of pipes
- ongoing maintenance of infrastructure and investment in new projects to meet our future water needs
- delivering services and support programs to our customers
- supporting the health of our natural environment and waterways.
Residential customers
Standard charges (1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027)
| Water volume | Per kilolitre |
|---|---|
This is a usage charge. It is based on the amount of water you use. 1 kilolitre (kL) = 1,000 litres. | $2.6486 |
| Water service | Per annum |
|---|---|
This is a fixed charge. It is the same every quarter (three months) regardless of how much water you use. | $160.55 |
| Sewerage service | Per annum |
|---|---|
This is a fixed charge. It is the same every quarter (three months) regardless of how much water you use. | $658.70 |
| Class A recycled water volume | Per kilolitre |
|---|---|
This charge applies only to customers in new purple-pipe subdivisions (currently Armstrong Creek and parts of Torquay, Mount Duneed and Charlemont). This is a usage charge. It is based on the amount of Class A recycled water you use. 1 kilolitre (kL) = 1,000 litres. | $1.8426 |
Business customers
Standard charges (1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027)
| Water volume | Per kilolitre |
|---|---|
This is a usage charge. It is based on the amount of water you use. 1 kilolitre (kL) = 1,000 litres. | $2.6486 |
| Water service | Per annum |
|---|---|
This is a fixed charge. It is the same every quarter, regardless of how much water you use. | $160.55 |
| Sewerage volume | Per kilolitre |
|---|---|
This is a usage charge. It is based on the amount of water you use. | $2.2355 |
| Sewerage service | Per annum |
|---|---|
This is a fixed charge. It is the same every quarter, regardless of how much water you use. | $398.54 |
| Class A recycled water volume | Per kilolitre |
|---|---|
This charge applies only to customers in new purple-pipe subdivisions (currently Armstrong Creek and parts of Torquay, Mount Duneed and Charlemont). This is a usage charge. It is based on the amount of Class A recycled water you use. 1 kilolitre (kL) = 1,000 litres. | $1.8426 |
The full version of the Barwon Water Pricing Schedule is also available. Read or download it via the link below or request a copy by calling us on 1300 656 007.
Barwon Water Pricing Schedule 2026-2027 (PDF 490.8 KB)
Renters, landlords and owner-occupiers
Owner-occupiers pay all above charges.
Renters with a separate meter pay the water volume charge only. Landlords pay the water and sewerage service charges for their renters.
In some cases, where renters do not have separate meters (for instance, where a block of units share one water meter), the landlord pays all charges.
Credits
If you have overpaid a bill or receive a rebate, this will appear as a credit on your next bill.
Price regulation
Our fees and charges are regulated by the Essential Services Commission, Victoria’s independent economic regulator of essential utility services.
Other fees and charges
Additional charges may appear on your bill in some circumstances, such as renter meter reading or fire service fees. Refer to the pricing schedule above for a complete list of all fees and charges.
Notes
- Renter meter read: This fee is charged to the landlord/owner for each new renter. It covers both the cost to read the meter on occupancy and again when the renter vacates, and includes the cost involved in setting up a separate account for each renter.
- Special meter reading: When the sale of a property occurs a special meter reading needs to be applied for and is payable by the applicant. This is used to calculate the charges that are due at the time of settlement.
- Mandatory inspection rebooking fee: to be charged at the cost of the original inspection. e.g. if a residential R2 inspection fails, the rebooking fee would be cost of an R2 residential inspection