Billing – FAQ’s
Can I get a Pensioner Rebate on my block of Land?
No, for the rebate to be applicable it must be your Principal Place of Residence.
I don’t have any services on my Vacant Land, why do I have to pay charges?
Customers who are able to connect to our water and sewer system pay fixed access. This fee is not related to usage.
Why do I pay “WASTEWATER” on vacant land when I use no water?
Wastewater is a Sewerage Access Charge and is charged on properties which have the service available.
Why am I paying consumption when I have a renter on the property?
Have you registered your renter, all renters need to complete a Commercial Rental Notification Form.
Once this application is received, your renter will be registered on our system and will then receive accounts for consumption.
Why are Westernport’s access charges higher than Melbourne charges?
Westernport Water supplies a relatively small population but must develop and maintain infrastructure to meet peak populations of up to 60,000 during holiday periods and major events on Phillip Island.
Is there any Fluoride in the Westernport’s Water System?
A Department Of Health requirement to introduce fluoride into our water supply, as a way to improve dental health, came online in February 2010. For more information see a digital copy of the DOH Fluoridisation Act 1973.
Why does the water storage level sometimes not go up after we have a big storm?
The water table of the surrounding countryside may be low following a prolonged dry period wit much of the rainfall soaking into the ground. During a wet sequence such as July to November 2010 the ground has become saturated and run off is immediate.
Water – FAQ’s
Why does the water sometimes leave stains?
Candowie Reservoir is a shallow catchment. That means the water can sometimes contain more dissolved minerals (such as magnesium or calcium) as well as manganese and iron, than a high country reservoir. In certain conditions these can leave stains and lessen the performance of soaps and detergents (‘hard’ water).
What can I do at home to improve the water quality?
If you have been away from your home for a long period of time, remember to operate the internal water taps for between 30 seconds and a minute (you can catch and reuse this water on the garden). This will flush out any pipes that have been inactive.
What work does Westernport Water do to ensure water quality?
Before treatment the raw water is high in nutrients and organics and periodically high in manganese and iron. Following Westernport Water treatment the water must comply with 2004 Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. You can visit the National Health and Medical Research Council for information and a copy of these guidelines.
What do I need to do if I have pet fish?
If you are looking to build a fish pond, buy an aquarium or are simply maintaining your existing fish bowl there are some things you should know to prevent Nemo from going belly up.
The Candowie Reservoir, where our water is sourced, is surrounded by farmland. As a result, chemical treatment is necessary to ensure the drinking water is safe. A small amount of ammonia is added just before the chlorine is added to the water. This creates a reaction and forms a new disinfectant known as monochloramine. The process is called Chloramination.
Chloramination water treatment is common and used in parts of the Yarra Valley, Geelong, Mornington Peninsula, Wodonga, Benalla and many other Victorian regions.
This common water disinfection practice is used to ensure our water is safe to drink, however, when it comes to keep caring for your fresh or salt water fish, Chloramine needs to be removed before water is added to your pond or aquarium.
Local pet shops and vets have a range of treatments such as water conditioning agents and carbon filters that will neutralise the chlorinated water and make it safe for your fish.
For any further queries or guidance we recommend talking with a local pet shop or vet.
Want to know more? Read more on Chloramination here.
Target Your Water Use – FAQ’s
What is Target Your Water Use?
Target Your Water Use is the regional approach to water efficiency across Victoria.
The program is designed to provide useful information to regional Victorians on how to be more water efficient within their homes and how to use water more wisely.
Why is the program required?
Much of Victoria has received below average rainfall since July, 2014, resulting in reduced levels in many of our water storages. Below average rainfall, combined with a hot and dry end to 2015, made conditions more challenging across the state, particularly in north-west Victoria.
To this end, the Victorian Government has announced a co-ordinated approach by metropolitan and regional water corporations on water efficiency to ensure Victorians are provided with products, services and solutions on how to use water more wisely.
What are people in Melbourne and outer Melbourne doing to be more water efficient?
People living in metropolitan Melbourne will be participating in the voluntary water efficiency program Target 155 (T155). Residential water use across Melbourne is currently 169 litres per day; this campaign encourages Melbourne households to use 155 litres of water per person each day.
What is the difference between Target Your Water Use and T155?
The main difference is that T155 is a target based program where metropolitan Victorians are being encouraged to use 155 litres of water per person each day.
Target Your Water Use is an overarching program for all regional Victorians to access water efficiency information, products and services.
Why isn’t T155 being rolled out across all of Victoria?
Water consumption across regional Victoria varies significantly. Some regional water corporations have large areas covering significantly different climatic conditions and water supply systems.
In some regions, a consumption target of 155 litres per person per day would impact on liveability. Maintaining liveable cities and towns is an important aspect of the Andrews Government’s Water for Victoria water plan.
Target Your Water Use would allow each regional water corporation to focus water efficiency programs around the sensible water use for their region.
I live in regional Victoria; do I have to limit my water use to a certain amount?
No. Regional Victorians will instead have access to a variety of information, products and services to assist them in using water wisely.
I live on a farm; what programs can I access to assist me with my water usage?
Individual regional water corporations have different programs for different customers, including those who live rurally. Customers are encouraged to contact their local water corporation to discuss what water efficiency advice, programs and services are available.
How can I decrease my water usage? I already have a number of water efficient products within my home.
Your local water corporation will have advice and information to assist you further improve your water efficiency. This will include advice on understanding where water is used within the home and tips around managing this water use.
What are water corporations doing to ensure there is enough water for the future?
Water corporations are continually forecasting, modelling and planning for future infrastructure to ensure water supplies remain secure for their customers.
Currently every Victorian water corporation is preparing a Urban Water Strategy, a document that outlines how corporations will manage demand for – and ensure sufficient supplies of – drinking water across their service regions.
Customers can contact their local water corporation to find out more about current infrastructure projects and how water supplies are being secured.
How are large businesses water users being more water efficient?
Large water-using businesses have generally done a lot already to improve their water efficiency and are continuing to do so, with assistance from regional water corporations.
Why aren’t we all on restrictions?
Permanent Water Saving Rules are currently in place across Victoria. These rules are a set of common sense rules that are applied every day of the year to ensure Victorians use water efficiently.
The rules are designed to allow flexibility and choice regarding water usage, especially through the warmer months.
Staged water restrictions limit a range of household and commercial water uses that, in turn, reduce demand. Water restrictions will only be introduced to manage water supplies in the event of prolonged dry conditions.
Will there be any Victorian Government rebates for water efficiency products?
The Victorian water industry is working with the Government to determine how best to assist households to save water and use water more efficiently.
Water corporations have a range of program resources to empower their community toward sensible water use.
Check your water corporations website to find useful tools and advice to assist you with reducing water usage around the home and business.
There are currently no state government rebates for water efficient products, however urban water use across the state is constantly being reviewed to understand where future assistance may be most effectively directed.
If we have the desalination plant, why not just order more water?
A great deal of work has been undertaken to project and model how much water is needed for metropolitan Melbourne. From this, it has been determined the minimum order from the desalination plant is 50 billion litres of water. This amount will ensure the security of supply for the metropolitan Melbourne water system and regional communities connected to the metropolitan water grid.
For Melbourne and Victoria as a whole, both supply and demand of water for the long term will need to be reviewed. While the desalination plant provides a source of water that doesn’t rely on rainfall, using water sensibly will help benefit all Victorians.
Is Victoria in a drought?
While Victoria may not technically be in drought, climate change and population growth means we need to continue to focus on both the supply of water and demand.
During the past year, we have seen dry conditions across the state, and in some parts of the state there has been reduced rainfall meaning fewer inflows into our catchment areas.
The water order of 50 gigalitres from the desalination plant only goes part of the way to boost water supplies for Melbourne and other towns connected to Melbourne’s storages.
Water efficiency measures like Target Your Water Use will play an important role in keeping demand on supplies at reasonable levels. By using water more efficiently, Victorians will be helping make sure water is available for everyone.
How does the metropolitan water grid benefit customers of regional water corporations?
The grid connects a number of Victoria’s major water supply sources and the desalination plant, which can support regional and metropolitan water corporations either physically through connected systems, or through water trading.