Response to the article Higher Water Price Unfair in the Kalgoorlie Miner 11 May 2019

In response to the article “Higher water price unfair” published in the Kalgoorlie Miner on 11 May, water charges for Kalgoorlie-Boulder residents using up to 300,000 litres a year are the same as those in Perth.

As the average household water use in the Goldfields region is 270,000 litres a year, this means most households in Kalgoorlie-Boulder pay no more than Perth residents for the water they use.

Average water users in Kalgoorlie-Boulder pay the same as Perth residents because the cost of delivering water is subsidised by all Western Australians. Over the next four years, this will total more than $1.1 billion in subsidies to deliver water to residents in regional WA.

The cost of delivering water to the Goldfields is much higher than it is for Perth. Water is sourced from Perth from rainfall, groundwater, recycling and desalination and stored in Mundaring Weir. It is then transferred 550 kms to the town travelling through 20 pump stations, taking five to eight days, and stored in a tank where it is treated and finally delivered to residents, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

As the Goldfields Pipeline was built more than a century ago, ageing sections of the pipe need constant upgrading or replacing to ensure a safe and secure water supply. This includes the pipeline itself, pump stations and the tanks and reservoirs along the pipeline route. 

The tiered pricing system for water encourages our highest water users to be as waterwise as possible, particularly with outdoor water use. 

Encouraging people to become more waterwise is more important than ever as climate change continues to impact our rainfall in Western Australia.  Today’s climate is in stark contrast to 1903 when the Goldfields scheme was first opened.

If Kalgoorlie-Boulder residents are using more water than average, putting them into more expensive pricing tiers, there’s a lot of help and advice available through our website. Residents can track their daily water use through their smart meter by signing up to My Water, check for leaks in the home, and follow some simple tips that can save a lot of water and money. Go to www.watercorporation.com.au to find out more.