How are the sewerage charges determined for businesses?
Cradle Mountain Water is changing how we charge for fixed sewerage services for the purpose of adopting a more equitable method for our non residential customers. The Economic Regulator has approved a method called Equivalent Tenements (ET). This is a methodology developed by the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA), which compared and assessed the number of equivalent residential premises typically represented by a wide range of non-residential properties such as schools, hospitals, motels, take-away shops etc. Rates assessed by the NSW Water Directorate were applied to gaps identified in the types of industries assessed and these were agreed to by Cradle Mountain Water, Ben Lomond Water and Southern Water.
The approach of ET to sewerage pricing essentially considers that a standard residential property has an ET value of one. Depending on the size, use and other variables, a non residential property is assessed on multiples of ET for domestic strength waste
For example, a comparison of the ET allocation for a residential property and a commerical property - this achieved by multiplying the number of units by the ET factor;
Parameters for different types of properties is used to calcuate the ET rate unit. For example, offices are based on the floor area of the building, 166.67 square meters equals an ET value of one. Schools are based on the number of students, 17.54 students is the equivalent of one ET and hairdressers are based on the number of basins with one basin equivalent to 0.8 ET's. To view the full range of parameters please click here.
Cradle Mountain Water has identified all non-residential properties and we have completed considerable research in an endeavour to determine the relevant details to allow an assessment of ET's. Letters have been sent to all non-residentail properties that explains the ET methodology, the new fixed water charge, water usage and fixed sewerage charge and an assessment of the ET value of your property. We encourage property owners to contact us if they believe that the data used to calculate your ET total is inaccurate, please contact us by email on enquiries@cmwater.com.au with "ET" as the subject heading or phone 13 MYWATER (13 6992).