Charges apply to houses, flats, strata units, dual occupancies and mixed developments. Mixed developments are properties made up of at least one residential and at least one non-residential property. These charges apply from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
Typical charges
Typical quarterly charges for a house (water and wastewater services using 50 kL) is $387.03 for a 92-day quarter.
Most homes are billed for:
- water service
- water usage
- wastewater service
- stormwater service (in some areas).
Want to see the quarterly charge for your property? Use our fixed charges calculator. Enter your address to get the current charges.
| Service | 2026–27 charge |
|---|---|
Water service | $26.65 per quarter |
Water usage | $3.41 per kilolitre |
Wastewater service | $189.88 per quarter |
Stormwater service | $30.26 per quarter per house |
What we bill you for
For a home, your bill usually includes:
- fixed charges for being connected to our water, wastewater and stormwater
- usage charges for the water you use.
Fixed charges are billed quarterly, but calculated daily.
Here's how many days are in each quarter:
- July and October – 92 days
- January – 90 days
- April – 91 days.
The charges on this page are based on the longest quarter, which is 92 days. Learn how to read your bill.
Find out who pays what, and when, in our Service and usage charges policy.
Need help to pay your bill?
If you're a pensioner who owns and lives in your own home, you may be eligible for a pensioner concession on fixed service charges.
If you're having financial difficulties we may be able to offer help with your bill.
Water service charges
This is the fixed charge you pay for your connection to our water supply, regardless of how much water you use.
| Charge type | Maximum quarterly charge 2025–26 | Maximum quarterly charge 2026–27 |
|---|---|---|
If you have a meter | $29.73 a quarter | $26.65 a quarter |
If you don't have a meter | $173.55 a quarter | $181.56 a quarter |
The water service charge is adjusted each year based on how much water we needed from the rivers and dams managed by WaterNSW and the water produced by the Sydney Desalination Plant in the year before.
If dam levels for Greater Sydney drop below 60%, the unmetered charge will increase to $200.93 until dam levels are back over 70%.
Wastewater service charges
You pay a fixed charge for your connection to our wastewater system.
| Charge type | Maximum quarterly charge 2025–26 | Maximum quarterly charge 2026–27 |
|---|---|---|
Your wastewater service | $174.40 a quarter | $189.88 a quarter |
This charge is made up of 2 parts:
- the cost to operate and maintain our wastewater network
- a deemed amount for usage, which covers the transport and treatment of your wastewater.
Stormwater service charges
If your property is in one of our stormwater drainage areas, you'll pay a fixed charge to help maintain our large trunk drains. You might also be charged separately by your local council for street-level drainage.
Not sure if these charges apply to you?
Use our stormwater catchment map to check if your property is in a stormwater area.
| Charge type | Maximum quarterly charge 2025–26 | Maximum quarterly charge 2026–27 |
|---|---|---|
If you live in a unit or are low impact | $9.29 | $9.67 |
If you live in a house | $29.07 | $30.26 |
You might get a discount if you reuse stormwater at home
If you capture and reuse most of the stormwater on your property, you may be eligible for a discount on your stormwater charges. Explore more ways to use stormwater at your home.
Water usage charges
If your property has a water meter, you'll be charged each quarter based on how much water you use.
Drinking water charge
| Charge type | 1 October 2025 – 30 June 2026 | 1 July 2026 – 30 June 2027 |
|---|---|---|
Drinking water usage | $3.17 a kilolitre | $3.41 a kilolitre |
If dam levels for Greater Sydney drop below 60%, a higher drought rate applies until dam levels rise back above 70%. The drought drinking water usage charge is $3.84 a kilolitre.
Recycled water charge
| Charge type | 1 October 2025 – 30 June 2026 | 1 July 2026 – 30 June 2027 |
|---|---|---|
Recycled water usage | $2.85 a kilolitre | $3.07 a kilolitre |
Backflow charges
These charges apply only to properties with a testable backflow prevention containment device, not typical houses. Visit backflow prevention to understand your responsibilities.
Backflow prevention device administration fee
| Charge type | Maximum quarterly charge 2025–26 | Maximum quarterly charge 2026–27 |
|---|---|---|
Backflow administration fee | $10.86 a quarter | $11.05 a quarter |
If your property has a testable backflow prevention device, you'll pay a quarterly fee (one per property) to help us recover the cost of running the backflow prevention containment program to safeguard our network.
Annual test fee
| Charge type | 2025–26 charge | 2026–27 charge |
|---|---|---|
Backflow annual test (includes GST) | $531.34 | $553.12 |
If you fail to complete the annual testing of your backflow prevention containment devices, we may arrange for an accredited plumber to attend the site to complete the testing. The annual test fee will apply for each device tested. The charge will be raised on your next bill.
Backflow annual test – no access fee
| Charge type | 2025–26 charge | 2026–27 charge |
|---|---|---|
Backflow annual test – no access (includes GST) | $414.68 | $431.68 |
If we've arranged for a plumber to attend your site to test your backflow prevention containment devices but they're unable to complete the test due to reasons attributable to you (such as refusal of access, locked premises or any other obstruction preventing testing), you must pay a no access fee. This charge will be raised on your next bill.
Billing charges
Maybe you need a financial statement, or there's a charge on your bill you don't understand.
Billing record search statement
| Application for | 2025–26 charge | 2025–26 charge |
|---|---|---|
Billing record search statement | $45.46 | $47.32 |
Order financial statements (not copies of bills) back to 2014 for legal or tax purposes at Sydney Water Tap in®. The fee applies to each separate order. Alternatively, get free financial statements and copies of bills for the last 3 years in My Account.
Dishonoured or declined payment fee
| Fee for | 2025–26 charge | 2026–27 charge |
|---|---|---|
Dishonoured or declined payment (includes GST) | $18.92 | $19.70 |
If your financial institution declines your bill payment, we'll charge you a fee. We'll also charge you their fee if they pass it on to us.
Late payment fee
| Fee for | 2025–26 charge | 2026–27 charge |
|---|---|---|
Late payment (includes GST) | $6.27 a quarter | $6.52 a quarter |
If your bill isn't paid by the due date, we may charge you a late payment fee or interest. Once the interest charged exceeds the fee, interest will be charged instead. Interest is charged at the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cash rate target plus 4%.
Water reconnection fee
| Fee for | 2025–26 charge | 2026–27 charge |
|---|---|---|
Water reconnection | $74.41 | $77.46 |
If your bill hasn't been paid, we may restrict or disconnect you from the water supply. You must pay a fee to be reconnected.
Metering charges
You may need to pay more if you want your meter read more frequently, if we're unable to get to your meter or if your meter has been damaged.
Inaccessible meter fee
| Fee for | 2025–26 charge | 2026–27 charge |
|---|---|---|
Inaccessible meter | $13.16 a quarter | $13.70 a quarter |
If we can't read your meter and have to average your bills over a long period, we may charge a fee. The fee won't apply if you provide your meter readings or choose to have a remotely read meter installed.
Monthly meter reading fee
| Fee for | 2025–26 charge | 2026–27 charge |
|---|---|---|
Monthly meter reading | $47.88 a quarter | $49.85 a quarter |
You can ask us to read your meter monthly, and receive monthly bills. The fee will appear on the first bill each quarter. To arrange monthly meter readings, call us on 13 20 92 8am–5:30pm Monday to Friday (except public holidays).
Replacement of a damaged meter
| Fee to replace damaged meter | 2025–26 charge | 2026–27 charge |
|---|---|---|
20 mm meters | $405.25 | $421.87 |
25, 32 and 40 mm meters | $535.04 | $556.98 |
If you or someone at the property damages the meter and it requires replacement, we may charge you. The charge depends on the meter size. The meter will be replaced with a smart meter.
We'll continue to pay to replace meters that are faulty or due to be replaced as part of our regular maintenance program.
Smart meter for new connections
| Charge for | 2025–26 charge | 2026–27 charge |
|---|---|---|
Smart meter fee (includes GST) | $326.34 | $339.72 |
For new 20 mm services installed after 1 October 2025, there's a smart meter fee. The smart meter will remain on the property and belong to us just like a mechanical meter. This charge does not apply to meters in multi-level buildings. Fee includes GST.
Smart meter opt out
| Charge for | 2025–26 charge | 2026–27 charge |
|---|---|---|
Smart meter opt out | $9.41 a quarter | $9.80 a quarter |
If you opt out of having a smart meter, we'll need to continue reading your meter manually. You will be charged to help pay for this.
Smart meter pulse splitter
| Charge for | 2025–26 charge | 2026–27 charge |
|---|---|---|
Pulse splitter / double adapter installation | $612.74 | $637.86 |
If you're a non-residential property owner and you'd like direct access to the smart meter readings at your property, you can pay for a splitter to be installed. This is a one-off cost, but the splitter will remain at the property in the future.
Sydney Olympic Park charges
If you live in the Sydney Olympic Park area and have recycled water, the service is provided by the Sydney Olympic Park Authority (SOPA). We collect payments for this service on their behalf – it will appear on your bill.
Recycled water service charge
| Charge type | Maximum quarterly service charge 2025–26 | Maximum quarterly service charge 2026–27 |
|---|---|---|
SOPA recycled service charge | $7.43 a quarter | $6.66 a quarter |
Recycled water usage charge
| Charge type | 1 October 2025 – 30 June 2026 | 1 July 2026 – 30 June 2027 |
|---|---|---|
SOPA recycled usage charge | $3.02 a kilolitre | $3.26 a kilolitre |
If dam levels for Greater Sydney drop below 60%, the recycled water usage charge will increase to the drought rate until dam levels are back over 70%. The SOPA recycled drought usage charge is $3.69 a kilolitre.
Can't find the price you're looking for?
It may be somewhere else on the website. We've listed some other common pricing pages, or you can use the search bar at the top of this page.