Water Charges Repackaged But Not NewAs the first rates notices including an IAWAI water services charge roll out this week, residents and businesses are being assured the water component is a split of the previous total charge, not an additional or a replicated cost. We want to reassure people the separated water charges with their rates bills are not an additional or new charge. Water and wastewater services have been removed from council rates and are now billed separately. Payment options and arrangements which were in place or offered by councils for rates will also apply to IAWAI charges. The national rates rebates scheme operated by the Department of Internal Affairs and administered by councils has been extended to include both rates and water charges.