WATER AND ENERGY SOURCES

The majority of households were connected to mains water and electricity. There were also a substantial number of households receiving their water and energy from multiple sources.


Water sources

All sources of water used at dwelling

In October 2009, nine out of ten Queensland households (90% or 1,485,300) used mains water as a source of water at their dwelling. Households can have multiple water sources. Rainwater was used by 38% (635,100) of households. Grey water was used by 12% (191,000), bore water by 8% (124,400) and 5% (81,900) used water from other sources.

In October 2009, mains water was the most common source of water used by households (99% or 721,200) in the Brisbane Major Statistical Region (hereafter referred to as Brisbane). Mains water was also the most common source of water for the Balance of Queensland, being used by 83% (764,200) of households. The proportions of households using rainwater, bore water, grey water and other water sources were all greater for households in the Balance of Queensland than for Brisbane households (table 1.1).

Rainwater tanks

There were 628,900 households in Queensland in October 2009 with a rainwater tank at their dwelling. This represented 38% of all households in Queensland.

Of the 1,485,300 Queensland households in October 2009 that used mains water as a source of water for their dwelling, 32% (470,800) also had a rainwater tank at their dwelling (table 1.2).

Energy sources

All sources of energy used at dwelling

Almost all Queensland households (99.9% or 1,652,600) used mains electricity at their dwelling in October 2009. Households can use multiple energy sources. Other sources of energy used were: Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)/bottled gas 19% (316,500), mains gas 12% (203,900), and solar energy, which was used in 10% (157,600) of households.

When comparing Brisbane with the Balance of Queensland, there was little difference in the proportion of households using mains electricity at their dwelling and in the proportion of households using solar energy at their dwelling. However, there was a noticeable difference between Brisbane and Balance of Queensland in the proportions of households using mains gas and the proportion using LPG/bottled gas. There were 22% (163,500) of households using mains gas in Brisbane compared with only 4% (40,400) in the Balance of Queensland. LPG/bottled gas was used by 12% (85,200) of households in Brisbane compared with 25% (231,300) in the Balance of Queensland (table 1.3).

1.1 ALL SOURCES OF HOUSEHOLD WATER: Qld - Oct. 2009
		Mains water(a)	Grey water(b)	Rainwater(c)	Bore water	Other water(d)	Total households(e)
Number ('000)
	Brisbane(f)	721.2	79.9	259.6	*4.7	8.0	730.9
	Balance of Qld	764.2	111.1	375.5	119.7	73.9	923.2
	Total	1 485.3	191.0	635.1	124.4	81.9	1 654.0
Proportion (%)
	Brisbane(f)	98.7	10.9	35.5	*0.6	1.1	100.0
	Balance of Qld	82.8	12.0	40.7	13.0	8.0	100.0
	Total	89.8	11.5	38.4	7.5	4.9	100.0
* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution
(a) Includes carrier water (truck fills tank).
(b) Includes dual reticulation (purple pipes with recycled water).
(c) Households that used rainwater may have collected it in containers other than a rainwater tank, e.g. pans.
(d) Includes storm, dam, creek, river, channel or other water.
(e) Components may sum to more than total as households may have more than one water source.
(f) Refers to the Brisbane Major Statistical Region.

1.2 WHETHER DWELLING HAS A RAINWATER TANK, All sources of household water: Qld - Oct. 2009
		Has rainwater tank	No rainwater tank	Total
Number ('000)
	Mains water(a)	470.8	1 014.6	1 485.3
	Grey water(b)	108.8	82.2	191.0
	Rainwater(c)	591.8	43.3	635.1
	Bore water	81.5	42.9	124.4
	Other water(d)	72.4	9.5	81.9
	Total households(e)	628.9	1 025.1	1 654.0
Proportion (%)
	Mains water(a)	31.7	68.3	100.0
	Grey water(b)	57.0	43.0	100.0
	Rainwater(c)	93.2	6.8	100.0
	Bore water	65.5	34.5	100.0
	Other water(d)	88.5	*11.5	100.0
	Total households(e)	38.0	62.0	100.0
* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution
(a) Includes carrier water (truck fills tank).
(b) Includes dual reticulation (purple pipes with recycled water).
(c) Households that used rainwater may have collected it in containers other than a rainwater tank, e.g. pans.
(d) Includes storm, dam, creek, river, channel or other water.
(e) Components may sum to more than total as households may have more than one water source.

1.3 ALL SOURCES OF HOUSEHOLD ENERGY: Brisbane & Balance of Qld - Oct. 2009
		Mains electricity	Mains gas	Solar	LPG/ Bottled gas	Other(a)	Total households(b)
Number ('000)
	Brisbane(c)	730.9	163.5	67.3	85.2	17.3	730.9
	Balance of Qld	921.8	40.4	90.3	231.3	93.5	923.2
	Total	1 652.6	203.9	157.6	316.5	110.8	1 654.0
Proportion (%)
	Brisbane(c)	100.0	22.4	9.2	11.7	2.4	100.0
	Balance of Qld	99.8	4.4	9.8	25.0	10.1	100.0
	Total	99.9	12.3	9.5	19.1	6.7	100.0
(a) Includes wood, oil, photo voltaic and other energy sources.
(b) Components may sum to more than total as households may have more than one energy source.
(c) Refers to the Brisbane Major Statistical Region.

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