Yes, water rates are charges to the property (similar to taxes) and the land-owner always bears responsibility.

All accounts are billed monthly, based on meter readings or an estimated consumption. Your water bill consists of the following components: Your water bill consists of the following components:
- Service charge, which varies based on size of meter
- Price Adjustment Mechanism (PAM)
- Sewerage Charge
- Water Charge, which is fixed in accordance with the use of the property

The service charge is a fixed charge applied to each bill depending on the size of the service connection. It is aimed at covering a portion of the Whim Water’s cost of maintaining water supply to the premises for use by the customer. These costs continue to be borne even when the customer is not actually using the water. The service charge is therefore applicable regardless of the amount of water consumed on the property.

Water supply disruptions may be caused by a number of things. These include exceptional weather systems or natural disasters, drought conditions or prolonged dry spells, electrical or mechanical failures at either the treatment plant, the pumping stations or elsewhere on the system.
Disruptions may also be caused by broken mains, as well as lock-offs to facilitate preventative maintenance or effect emergency repairs.

Your water bill pays for the cost of supplying you with the quantity of water consumed. This includes the cost of collecting, treating and distributing the potable water to you.
Among these costs are treatment chemicals, electricity costs, labour costs and the costs of pipelines and other infrastructure.