Sewage charges

Council’s fees and charges in the Water and Sewage areas cover a broad range of activities, from statutory charges through Council mandated charges associated with services Council provide, to fees for services where customers have a choice as to who they get to do the work. Council, for instance ,reserves the right to perform work on its existing operational infrastructure and charges an appropriate fee to do so, but can provide new pipework connections for water and sewer for new subdivisions and multiple occupancy dwellings (normally the responsibility of the developer to carry out this work) on a fee for service basis. Many such services are done on a quotation basis, as pipes, fittings, and labour vary from job to job, and supplier pricing also fluctuates.  To obtain a quotation, contact us during business hours, and we will arrange for staff to assess your requirements and compile a quote. Quotes are valid for 30 days.

Water and sewage charges are calculated annually, the 2011-2012 fees and charges tab provides a summary of these charges. The current Council Management Plan explains the calculations, rationale and application of these funds to the operation and maintenance of water and sewer infrastructure in greater detail.

Water and sewage charges

User charges are fees levied on the community for the use of the water and sewage facilities provided by Council.  Funds raised through water and sewage charges are spent on the operational, maintenance and capital expenditure needs related to those services and activities.  Further explanation of the rationale of these charges can be found in Best Practice Pricing.

Method of rendering accounts

In accordance with Section 552 of the Local Government Act 1993, land that is supplied with water from a water pipe of the Council and land that is situated within 225 metres of a water pipe of Council (whether or not actually supplied with water from any water pipe of the Council) is charged an annual Water Service Availability Charge for each service to the property or one service if none exists.  Each Annual Water Service Charge applicable is included in the Annual Rate Notice issued for the financial year.  Water consumption charges are raised three times a year.

Water charges

Pricing which reflects costs involved can help ensure scarce water resources are not wasted and can promote more efficient investment in water infrastructure. The water service availability charge represents the cost of providing the water treatment plants and the reticulation system. These costs include replacement and upgrading of mechanical, electrical and chemical dosing equipment at the treatment works and the cost of replacement and upgrading of reticulation mains.

The consumption tariff requires consumers to pay for each kilolitre of water consumed. There are three tariffs for consumption.  The Residential Consumption Tariff is a two-tier tariff charged for residential properties.  The tier 1 charge applies up to 350Kl and tier 2 applies above 350Kl per annum.  A non-residential consumption tariff is charged for all other properties connected to town water supply.

Sewage charges

All residential properties are levied the same sewer service charge under the Guidelines mentioned above, with the usage charge based on the average residential water consumption.

The non-residential sewage charge is based on the factors outlined in the above mentioned guideline. These include the size of the water connection, actual water usage and an industry average percentage of the water used that is expected to pass through to the sewage system (the sewage discharge factor).

Sewer and Water Developer Charges are currently being reviewed, using the methodology outlined by the Department Water and Energy. It is expected that new charges will be recommended to more closely reflect the real costs of providing additional services to new developments.

Water and sewer fees and charges

Water connection fees
New services (no existing service pipe)
20mm service complete with meter, backflow prevention and tap	Quotation
25mm service complete with meter, backflow prevention and tap	Quotation
20/25mm service - surcharge for commercial/industrial backflow prevention device	Quotation
40mm service with 40mm meter	Quotation
50mm service with 50mm meter	Quotation
Provision of Water Meter Only - (Construction certificate issued prior to 1/7/09)	329.00
Provision of 20mm backflow prevention device only	471.00
Provision of 25mm backflow prevention device only	526.00
New Services (connect to existing service pipe)
20mm water meter complete with backflow prevention and tap	870.00
25mm water meter complete with backflow prevention and tap	1,203.50
20/25mm service - surcharge for commercial/industrial backflow prevention device	Quotation
40mm service with 40mm meter	Quotation
50mm service with 50mm meter	Quotation
Rural Water Connection (conditions apply)	Quotation
Other Services
Replacement of water indicator posts	80.00
Disconnection of Water Meter at Service (service capped)	203.00
Disconnection of Water Service at Main	406.50
Reconnection (following disconnection)
normal working hours	203.00
outside working hours	505.00
- Removal of water restriction device on water meters
normal working hours	69.50
outside working hours	272.50
Water service/meter replacements/repairs
Replacement of Water Meters due to Unauthorised removal and/or tampering	438.50
Damage due to negligence by property owner	438.50
Backflow prevention
Backflow prevention devices on existing commercial/industrial services
Installation	Quotation
Annual Inspection/Test Fee	120.00
Water meter testing
Local Government (General) Regulation 2005. Section 158, If meter not reading correctly - test fee is refundable.
Test fee 20mm to 25mm service	149.00
Test fee over 25mm to 40mm	161.00
Test fee over 40mm to 50mm	309.50
Test fee above 50mm	Quotation
Special reading fee	63.00
Transfer location at owners request (includes raising service)
Residential	Quotation
Industrial/Commercial	Quotation
Water flow/pressure investigation
Fire Flow Investigation	272.50
Testing Max/Min Pressure supplied (at property service line only)	160.00
Water pipe location
Hire of Equipment and Qualified Operator (/hr)  (Emergencies Only)	76.50
Water mains location - private works	282.50
Water sales
Tanker sales (per kilolitre)
Muswellbrook, (per Kl)	3.60
Denman (not available), (per Kl)	n/a
Sandy Hollow (not available), (per Kl)	n/a
Hire of metered hydrant
Security Deposit (refundable)	553.00
Hire charge, per month	24.00
Water Consumption, (per Kl)	3.85
Water re-use - sewage effluent
Muswellbrook Golf Club (Cost per Annum.) Subject to Increase with Rate Pegging Limit	17,194.00
Water quality testing
Physical (pH, TSS, TDS, Turbidity)	32.00
Hardness	32.00
Microbiological (E.coli, Total Coliforms)	74.50
Water Management Act approval
Application for Notice of requirements for single dwelling	96.00
Application for Compliance Certificate for single dwelling	96.00
Application for Notice of requirements for all other developments	232.00
Application for Compliance Certificate for all other developments	232.00
Inspection of Works (determined in notice of requirements)	95.50 per ½ hour
Sewage fees
Owners/Contractors where plan exists	no charge
Connection fee
New applications to connect to sewer - 1 WC	117.00
- each additional WC	41.00
Provision of new sewer junction	Quotation
Sewer Extension (Commercial)	Quotation
Raising/Lowering Manhole (new development)	Quotation
(no fee for raising manholes associated with residential landscaping work)
Sewer Junction Cut In (additional)	Quotation
Sewer Junction or Sewer Mains Location (/hr)	282.50
Trade waste applications
Category 3
Fee determined on receipt of application	As determined
Sewer and water headworks
(Local Government Act 1993 Section 404 (1))
Water Headworks - all areas	2,992.00
Sewer Headworks - all areas	5,295.00