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Canberra Today 11°/15° | Saturday, March 30, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Up go water rates… but not by much

FROM July 1, water bills will increase by 1.9 per cent, following the release of the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission’s (ICRC) 2019-20 plan for the ACT. 

The inflation will see a “typical” Canberra household, which uses 200kl of water per year, pay about $22 more a year.

Icon Water says the key drivers for the price adjustment have been the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and government charges.

“This price change is part of a five year direction set by the ICRC for 2018–2023,” Icon Water’s managing director Ray Hezkial.

“In setting prices, the ICRC takes into account the changing costs of delivering water to the region (more than 52 billion litres in 2017-18) and treating the sewage of almost half a million people.

“This includes capital works to upgrade our assets, including more than 6000km of pipes and a range of plants, pumping stations and reservoirs.”

For example, Mr Hezkial says Icon Water expects to spend more than $10 million throughout 2019-20 upgrading the tertiary filters and disinfection system at Canberra’s primary sewage treatment plant.

“This will make sure sewage is cleaned and treated to stringent standards before it’s released back into the Molonglo River,” he says.

“We also expect to spend more than $16 million replacing water and sewer mains which have reached the end of their life.”

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Ian Meikle, editor

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