Windsor households are about to see their wastewater bills cut nearly in half. From 1 July 2026, Hawkesbury City Council hands over its Windsor Sewer Scheme to Sydney Water — ending an arrangement that had cost local residents around $1,300 a year, almost double what Sydney Water charges for the same service.
The deal covers the South Windsor treatment facility along with all pumps and pipes serving 8,500 customers across Windsor, South Windsor, Bligh Park, Windsor Downs, McGraths Hill, Mulgrave, Vineyard, Pitt Town and Clarendon — roughly 7,500 households and 1,000 businesses. A residential customer could save up to $599 a year. That saving does not expire.
From 1 July, affected customers will no longer see a wastewater charge on their Council rates notice. Sydney Water will bill them directly instead. For everyone already on a Sydney Water wastewater account, nothing changes. Letters explaining the shift are being posted to all affected households and should arrive by next week.
Hawkesbury had been the only metropolitan Sydney council still running its own sewer system. The McGraths Hill treatment facility will remain under Council ownership but operate under contract to Sydney Water.
One charge does remain. A Sewer Infrastructure Charge — separate from ongoing sewer costs — will continue appearing on Council rates notices for the next ten years, regardless of the handover.
It works out to $344.84 a year, or $86.21 a quarter, and covers loan repayments Council took on after the March 2021 floods damaged the Windsor Sewer Scheme.
