Water quality
Definition: The proportion of households connected to mains or town water.
Water quality refers to its physical, chemical and biological properties. The data presented here are a proxy measure.
Note: Households may have more than one source of water.
Source: ABS 2013g; Table S1.4.20.
- In March 2013, 8.3 million (93%) Australian households used mains or town water as a source of water (ABS 2013).
- Nearly all households in capital cities used mains or town water (99%), compared with 84% of households outside capital cities. Households outside capital cities were more likely to use rainwater tanks as a source of water (37%) compared with households in capital cities (19%).
- Household sources of water in 2013 were consistent with those for 2007 and 2010, except for the use of recycled or grey water. In 2013, 29% of households used recycled or grey water compared with 55% in 2007.
For more information, see Chapter 4.1 'Impacts of the natural environment on health'.