Household Water Charges Continue to Rise

HOUSEHOLD water charges in Brisbane will rise by more than 23 per cent as southeast Queensland continues to battle its worst drought on record.

People who waste water will be heavily penalised while those who save it will pay less under a system announced yesterday by Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman.

Mr Newman said if the average Brisbane household of 2.55 people continued to use water at the rate of 188 litres a day, the annual water charge would increase by $67 a year to $348. But if families reduced their usage to 140 litres a day the annual charge would increase by only $14.