The Audit identified that 32 GL of water was supplied to Darwin in 2011 and 7 GL to other regions. Sewage collected in 2011 comprised 20 GL in Darwin and 3GL in other regions. The DEC of the water and sewerage sector in the NT is projected to increase by 132 per cent, from $49 million in 2011 to $116 million in 2031.
The highest projected growth in water and sewerage DEC is in Darwin, where DEC is projected to grow by $63 million from $42 million in 2011 to $105 million in 2031. In the regional areas DEC is projected to grow by $4 million to $11 million 2031.
It is important to note that water and sewerage services have historically been under-priced, particularly in regional areas, and that this has potentially led to an understatement of DEC as measured by National Water Commission data (and as incorporated into the national accounts and GDP numbers). In regional areas the under-pricing of water and sewerage services means that the return on the capital base is a long way below the level needed to fund the full replacement cost of assets.
The NT Power and Water Corporation provides water and sewerage services in the NT's five major centres and five other minor centres. The company provides sewerage services only to an additional five minor centres.548
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548. Northern Territory Power and Water Corporation (2014)