I remember when I was a kid dad going nuts because they were going to charge for water usage. Used to just be a fixed rate per year slapped on council rates and a "fair use policy".
Off memory the initial rate was 5c /1000 litres.
As usual once this happened the rate just went up every year.
Then in the late 80's it was split off into a separate bill and they scoffed it would be the same and it would just make accounting easier.
Needless to say once split the 2 bills went up each year by basically what the combined increase use to be.
Late 90's saw a big change in the council rates... think it use to depend on the size of the block and services but they wanted to charge more for people living in better homes and basically cash in on the real estate boom. Was told for 90% the rate would not change or be less. Funny how in 2004 our yearly rates were $265 and this year $1300+ and now the water bill is hitting towards $300 a quarter as well.
We had our town water supply chlorinated about 5 years ago and that was the green light to just jack the supply and usage rates right up. On top of that we now get chlorinated water to flush toilets, shower in, water plants with and occasionally drink.
