Australia has the most expensive bottled water on the planet but that hasn't curbed consumer thirst for a beverage that people can access for free. On average, Australians each spent about $580 buying 504 litres of bottled water in 2021, a new United Nations report shows.
Households paid an average of $3.42 per kilolitre, down 3% year on year. Industry paid an average of $0.30 per kilolitre, down 25% year on year.
So why are Australians willing to pay dearly for a product that dwarfs the cost of tap water, which Sydney Water says comes in at well under 1 cent a litre? The primary answer is convenience, according to the Australian Beverages Council, which represents the nation's producers of non-alcoholic drinks including water.
Water scarcity has always been a contentious issue in Australia, a country which is known as the driest inhabited continent in the world. Lower rainfall has led to a reducing share of water in storage dams across the country, with water catchments struggling to maintain a sustainable water supply in most regions.
On average in the US, water use at home (water from the tap, toilet, dishwasher, etc.) adds up to about 138 gallons per household per day, or 60 gallons per person per day.
1 cubic metre is 1000 litres, which is around 12 baths full of water or 3,334 cups of tea!
According to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia's Retirement Standard, to have a 'comfortable' retirement, a couple who own their own home will need an income of about $70,500. A single person will need an annual income of more than $50,000.
Each person uses an average of 100,000 litres of water per year, which works out to 274 litres per day. If you take this information and apply it to an average Australian family household of two adults and two children, that works out to more than 30,000 litres each month.
Understanding your water bill. Whether you have a household or business account, you've come to the right place to learn about your water bill. You should receive a water bill from us every 2 months.
In terms of rainfall, Australia is the driest inhabited continent, and the amount of rainwater that enters rivers is also very low. On average, only 12% of rainfall flows into rivers in Australia, compared to 39% for Europe and 52% for North America.
All customers within the Essential Water area have their water use measured by a meter that measures usage in kilolitres (1 Kilolitre = 1000 litres). Charges for the amount of water consumed are based on the number of units of one whole kilolitre (1kL) you use during a quarterly billing period.
Water usage in Australia
As most of the water supplied in Australia comes from surface water, such as rivers and lakes, ongoing drought has led to issues revolving around water security. Around three quarters of the country's water usage was used for irrigation and industrial purposes.
Steel Water Tank 50,000 Litres (11,000 gallons)
One liter equals 33.81 fluid ounces (US).
For comparison, 1 liter of water translates to roughly 0.26 gallons.
The largest use of household water is to flush the toilet, followed by taking showers and baths. Toilets account for nearly 30 percent of an average home's indoor water consumption. Older, inefficient toilets can use as much as three to six gallons per flush.
If your home is newer than "1994" it probably was equipped with toilets using 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Available on the market now, are toilets which use 1.28 gallons per flush.
Agriculture. 70% of the world's freshwater is used for agriculture. In Europe, this sector requires 44% of freshwater resources.
Rainfall is variable and in recent times many parts of Australia have experienced prolonged periods of drought. Population growth also contributes to pressure on water supplies. Water storage in dams and aquifers (underground storage) is important to secure water supplies for human use.
Can you drink tap water in Australia? The short answer to this question is yes. Tap water in Australia is considered safe to drink by health professionals.
Australia is the driest populated continent on Earth, and yet Australia uses more water per person than most other countries in the world. Much can be done in the home and garden to reduce water use and the impacts of stormwater and wastewater on surrounding ecosystems.