• Domestic Supplies

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  Domestic consumers are usually billed for their water charges at 4-monthly intervals according to the meter readings taken. The charges payable are calculated on a tariff structure which consists of 4 tiers with progressively increasing prices. The tariff is so constructed to discourage excessive and unnecessary use of water.

  The following tariff structure is applicable to water consumed in billing periods which commence on or after 16 February 1995:

  • the first tier of 12 cubic metres is free of charge;
  • the second tier of 31 cubic metres is charged at $4.16 per cubic metre;
  • the third tier of 19 cubic metres is charged at $6.45 per cubic metre; and
  • the fourth tier for any consumption above the level of 62 cubic metres is charged at $9.05 per cubic metre.

  For the purpose of calculating water charges, a 4-month period is defined as 121.64 days in the Waterworks Regulations. Since water meters will not be read at intervals of exactly 121.64 days, the volume covered by each tier is adjusted on a pro-rata basis according to the actual number of days in the period between two meter readings. As such, a consumer who uses the same amount of water as another one but over a longer period of time will receive a lower water bill.

  Please refer to the following examples for detailed method of calculation or work out a scenario of your water and sewage charges incurred on basis of your past consumption pattern according to your latest water bill.

  Calculation Examples

  Example 1

  Registered consumer: Mr. Chan
  
  Consumption period: from 1/8/1995 to 6/12/1995 (127 days)
  
  Water consumption: 66 cubic metres
  
  The calculation is :

  Tier	Consumption	Rate(HK$)	Charges(HK$)
  first	12x127/121.64 = 12.529	0.00	0.00
  second	31x127/121.64 = 32.366	4.16	134.64
  third	19x127/121.64 = 19.837	6.45	127.94
  fourth	remaining 1.268	9.05	11.47
  Total	66.000		274.05

  Example 2

  Registered consumer: Mr. Lee
  
  Consumption period: from 1/8/1995 to 26/11/1995 (117 days)
  
  Water consumption: 66 cubic metres
  
  The calculation is :

  Tier	Consumption	Rate(HK$)	Charges(HK$)
  first	12x117/121.64 = 11.542	0.00	0.00
  second	31x117/121.64 = 29.817	4.16	124.03
  third	19x117/121.64 = 18.275	6.45	117.87
  fourth	remaining 6.366	9.05	57.61
  Total	66.000		299.51

  Mr. Lee pays more than Mr. Chan because he consumed the same quantity of water in a shorter period (117 days) than Mr. Chan (127 days).

  Work out a scenario of your water and sewage charges incurred on basis of your past consumption pattern according to your latest water bill.

  Please note that the above calculations are for reference only. Actual bills will be different from the amounts calculated because of the Sewage Charges, rounding of odd cents brought down from last water bills or carried forward to next bills and surcharges of 5% for overdue bills.

• Non-domestic Supplies

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  Non domestic consumers are usually billed for their water charges at 4-monthly intervals according to the meter readings taken. For consumers having large water consumption, they are billed at monthly intervals.

  The charges payable are calculated at a flat rate dependent on the purpose of the supply.

  The following rates are applicable to water consumed in billing periods which:

  Commence on or after 16 February 1995

  For trade		$4.58 per cubic metre
  For construction		$7.11 per cubic metre
  For non ocean-going shipping		$4.58 per cubic metre

  Commence on or after 1 July 1996

  For ocean-going shipping		$10.93 per cubic metre

  To demonstrate how the water charge is calculated, here is a simple example. A trading firm consumed 100 cubic metres of water in a 4-month period. Its water charge would be calculated by multiplying the consumption volume by the per unit water charge. That is, by multiplying 100 cubic metres by $4.58 per cubic metre. The trading firm is therefore required to pay a water charge of $458. You may work out a scenario of your water and sewage charges incurred on basis of your past consumption pattern according to your latest water bill.

• Flushing Supplies

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  Sea water supply for flushing is free of charge, while fresh water supply for flushing is usually billed at 4-monthly intervals according to the meter readings taken. There is only one meter installed in each building to record the total consumption of all flats in the same building.

  The charges payable are calculated on a tariff structure which consists of two tiers. The following tariff structure for a 4-month period is applicable to water consumed in billing periods which commence on or after 16 February 1995:

  • the first tier of 30 cubic metres per flat is free of charge; and
  • the second tier of any consumption above the level of 30 cubic metres per flat is charged at $4.58 per cubic metre.

  To demonstrate how the flushing charge is calculated, here is a simple example. A consumer consumed 100 cubic metres of water in a 4-month period. The water charge would be calculated by multiplying the consumption volume by the per unit water charge, i.e. by multiplying 70 cubic metres by $4.58. The consumer is therefore required to pay a water charge of $320.6.

  For the purpose of calculating water charges, a 4-month period is defined as 121.64 days in the Waterworks Regulations. Since meter readings will not be taken at intervals of exactly 121.64 days, the volume covered by each tier is adjusted on a pro-rata basis according to the actual number of days in the period between two meter readings. If the interval between two readings is greater than 121.64 days, then more than 30 cubic metres of water per flat will be provided free of charge.

  Consumers should note that charges for flushing supply are not included in their individual water bills, but are billed separately to the registered consumer who is usually the management office, agent, incorporated owner or development company.

• Sewage Charges

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  A consumer whose premises are connected, whether directly or indirectly, to a communal drain or a communal sewer for the purpose of removing wastewater therefrom shall pay a sewage charge on the volume of water supplied. The Water Authority collects the Sewage Charge and Trade Effluent Surcharge for Drainage Authority together with water charge by issuing a combined bill to each consumer.

  For Domestic Supplies

  Domestic consumers are billed for their sewage charges at a 4-month interval. The sewage charges are calculated at $2.92 (with effect from 1.4.2017) per cubic metre of water consumed, with an exemption for the first 12 cubic metres for a 4-month period, which is defined as 121.64 days in the Waterworks Regulations.

   

  For Trade Supplies

  For trade, business and manufacture consumers, the sewage charges are calculated at $2.92 (with effect from 1.4.2017) per cubic metre of water supplied. There is no sewage charge for shipping supplies if there is no connection to a communal drain or a communal sewer.

  Some trades are eligible for 30% discount on their sewage charges payable. They are : -

  1. bleaching and dyeing of garments,
  2. bleaching and dyeing of knitted fabric,
  3. bleaching and dyeing of woven fabric
  4. bleaching and dyeing of yarn,
  5. knit outerwear,
  6. soft drinks and carbonated waters industries,
  7. breweries and manufacture of malt liquor,
  8. distilling, rectifying and blending spirits,
  9. restaurants,
  10. ice-making industry.

  For 27 types of trade/business/manufacture which discharge trade effluent, the consumer shall, in addition to the sewage charge, pay a Trade Effluent Surcharge, which is calculated based on the volume of water consumed and at a rate corresponding to the trade/business/manufacture operated - as defined in the Sewage Services (Trade Effluent Surcharge) Regulations. For details of sewage charging, please refer to the homepage of Drainage Services Department.

   

  For Flushing Supplies

  There is no sewage charge for flushing supplies.

• Estimate for Water and Sewage Charges

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  For details, please refer to this website.

• Concession for Water Charge, Sewage Charge and Trade Effluent Surcharge for Non-Domestic Accounts

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  The Chief Executive announced in the 2025 Policy Address a package of support measures for small and medium enterprises. These include reducing water charge, sewage charge and trade effluent surcharge (“TES”) (if applicable) for non-domestic accounts by 50%, subject to a monthly ceiling of $10,000 (water charge) and $5,000 (sewage charge) respectively per account. There is no ceiling for the concession of TES.

  These concession measures will be valid for one year from 15 January 2026 to 14 January 2027. The reduction would be reflected in the water bills. No application by the consumers is required.

  For details of the concession arrangement of water charge, please refer to our leaflet, illustrations of concession calculation and FAQ. You can also refer to the DSD website for details Drainage Services Department.

Please remember: water is precious. By saving water, you save money.