WATER — LEAK
CHARGES
1206. Hon DIANE EVERS to the minister representing the
Minister for Water:
In relation to the Water
Corporation, Aqwest and Busselton Water, and in regard to charges for leaks or
expected leaks if this can be determined, I ask —
(1) Will the minister please advise the number of
residential customers that have been charged amounts over $3 000 in any
one billing period by each agency; and —
(a) how many of these have been
contested;
(b) how many of these have been
withdrawn; and
(c) how many of
these were for leaks and drainage issues resulting from the agency conducting
maintenance or upgrades?
(2) What is the
estimated volume of water lost to leaks on residential accounts on the resident's
side of the meter by each agency?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the question.
The Minister for Water has provided the following answer.
The water corporations provide
financial assistance to customers who have received a high water use bill as a result
of an internal leak on the customer's side of the meter that is not
visible, usually underground. The leak allowance program has been developed to
consider the specific circumstances of each customer and their actions to
minimise water losses now and in the future.
Allowances are generally calculated based on 50 per cent for the estimated
wasted water volume above the average consumption in kilolitres for the
property. The figures for 2018–19 are as follows.
(1) For Aqwest,
five residential customers were billed over $3 000 after leak allowance
applied, due to a possible leak, and —
(a) two were contested;
(b) one was withdrawn; and
(c) no customers were charged for
leaks determined to be a result of Aqwest.
For Busselton Water, nine residential
customers were billed over $3 000 after leak allowance applied, due to a possible
leak, and —
(a) one was contested;
(b) none were withdrawn; and
(c) no customers were charged for
leaks determined to be a result of Busselton Water.
For Water Corporation, 99 residential
customers were billed over $3 000 after leak allowance applied, due to a possible
leak, and —
(a) none were contested;
(b) none were withdrawn; and
(c) no customers were charged for
leaks determined to be a result of Water Corporation.
(2) The estimated volumes of water lost to leaks on
residential accounts on the resident's side of the meter are: Aqwest, 14 426 kilolitres; Busselton Water, 40 681
kilolitres; and Water Corporation, 1 460 603 kilolitres.