The Queensland Government has made changes to the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008. These changes mean that council must supply a water advice notice (contains information on the property's water usage) to residents and non-owner residents, i.e. tenants. It has been recognised that providing water consumption data can encourage water saving behaviours.
For Property Owners
Rates Notices' include a Water Consumption Graph.
Why is there a graph appearing on the rates notice?
Under the Queensland Government’s regulatory “Guidelines for issuing a Rates notice or account for the supply of water to residential premises”, council rates notices' must include:
- graphical and numerical information on water consumption for the current period compared to the previous billing period
- the local area residential average for the current period, and
- litres (L) as a unit of measure on a daily comparative basis (i.e. L/day).
Why is consumption in the graph shown in litres when the readings are in kilolitres?
This is a requirement of the “Guidelines for issuing a Rates notice or account for the supply of water to residential premises.”
Why does the graph compare current period to previous billing period?
The comparison is to assist you in identifying changes in your water consumption pattern. It may assist you in identifying water leaks and/or understanding how your water use has changed since the previous billing period. The comparison also assists you in identifying changes in your water consumption pattern during a similar time of year.
What does the average suburb consumption mean?
The average suburb consumption allows you to compare your water consumption to the average consumption of properties in your suburb. You should also consider the type of properties in your area (e.g. unit complexes, acreage etc), when comparing to the suburb average. For example, if you live in a unit complex your consumption may be less than the suburb average if most properties in the suburb are houses on ¼ acre blocks.
I am a property owner and live in a unit complex, why does my graph show the whole complexes consumption?
Where single occupancy dwellings have a shared water meter(s), the consumption for each individual dwelling cannot be accurately measured. In these instances the consumption recorded by the water meter(s) for all the dwellings has been shown on the graph.
I own a property which has a body corporate that isn’t separately metered. Why is the contribution lot entitlement from the Body Corporate Community Management Statement not used to allocate consumption for the graphs?
The contribution lot entitlement is not used for allocating consumption in the graphs as it may not accurately reflect the actual consumption of each individual lot.
Where can I find a copy of the State Government’s regulatory “Guidelines for issuing a Rates notice or account for the supply of water to residential premises?”
The guidelines can be found online at www.derm.qld.gov.au.
For Tenants
Due to new Queensland Government legislation, tenants (non property owners) will receive a Water Consumption Advice twice a year. This advice is not a bill.
What is a water consumption advice?
A Water Consumption Advice indicates the amount of water used in one property and is issued by council
twice a year. The advice includes information on average daily water consumption and comparisons of water
consumption in the local residential area.
Why am I receiving this advice as a tenant?
The Queensland Government has made changes to the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008. Council
must now supply a water advice notice to non-owner residents, i.e. tenants. It has been recognised that
providing tenants with water consumption data can encourage water saving behaviours.
How can the water consumption advice help me as a tenant?
It is important as a tenant to understand the amount of water you are using and how it can affect the price of
your rent. Under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, tenants may be charged for
water consumption by their landlord. Council issues invoices to ratepayers (landlords or property owners) and
these charges may be passed onto the tenant, depending on your rental agreement. If you are unsure about your
individual circumstances, contact your property manager or landlord.
What does the graph appearing on the advice mean?
Under the Queensland Government’s legislation the advice must include:
- graphical and numerical information on water consumption for the current period compared to the previous billing period
- the local area residential average for the current period, and
- litres (L) as a unit of measure on a daily comparative basis (i.e. L/day).
Why does the graph compare the current period to previous billing period?
The comparison is to assist you in identifying changes in your water consumption pattern. It may assist you in identifying water leaks and/or understanding how your water use has changed since the previous billing period. The comparison also assists you in identifying changes in your water consumption pattern during a similar time of year.
What does the average suburb consumption mean?
The average suburb consumption allows you to compare your water consumption to the average consumption of properties in your suburb. You should also consider the type of properties in your area (e.g. unit complexes, acreage etc), when comparing to the suburb average. For example, if you live in a unit complex your consumption may be less than the suburb average if most properties in the suburb are houses on ¼ acre blocks.
I am a tenant and live in a unit complex, why does my graph show the whole complexes consumption?
Where single occupancy dwellings have a shared water meter(s), the consumption for each individual dwelling cannot be accurately measured. In these instances the consumption recorded by the water meter(s) for all the dwellings has been shown on the graph.