Household water prices have risen by an average of 17 per cent, while domestic consumption has fallen by 8 per cent, according to the latest data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

 

ABS Director of Environmental Accounts, Mark Lound, said the latest Water Account Australia publication looks at the costs and consumption of water for the 2010-11 period.


“We found the average price of water for households increased to $2.44 per kilolitre in 2010-11 from $2.10 per kilolitre in 2009-10,” Mr Lound said.


“Consumption in households decreased eight per cent to 1,699 gigalitres, compared to 1,844 gigalitres in 2009-10. 


“With the rise in price of water came a fall in total consumption for Australia which decreased one per cent to 13,337 gigalitres, down slightly from 13,515 gigalitres in 2009-10. 

 

The country’s agriculture sector accounted for over half Australia’s total water consumption, using 7,175 gigalitres in the 2010-11 period.

 

Further details, including state summaries, can be found in Water Account Australia, 2010-11 (cat. no. 4610.0), available for free download from the ABS website www.abs.gov.au