Two new reports on the state of Australia’s water industry show most Australians now enjoy safe and secure water supplies, but prices have increased.

The National Water Commission’s annual roundup covered rural and urban regions in separate reports, detailing the advances in sewerage treatment, water recycling, delivery, storage and supply.

“The quality of Australia’s drinking water is world-class, with 78 urban utilities reporting 100 per cent compliance with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines,” Commission Chair Karlene Maywald said.

“Recycled water supply has also increased, with eight utilities now reusing at least 90% of their treated sewerage effluent.

“The rural report shows that delivery efficiency remains at a record high of 83%, due in part to gains from piping modernisation projects that have reduced leakage and evaporation losses.

“These annual reports help consumers and governments determine whether the water sector is meeting their needs in an efficient and cost-effective manner”, she said.

The urban report confirms that water bills have continued to rise across the nation, for the supplies servicing 18.5 million Australians.

In the year to 2013, the national average for the residential water bill, based on the average water usage per property, rose by 8 per cent.

The national median is now around $300 more than it was five years ago.

For the utilities themselves, overall operating costs have increased steadily in the last eight years.

The figures suggest that any improvements in operating efficiency over that time have not been large enough to counter the effect of input cost increases.

Other factors have driven costs for supplier up too.

More stringent environmental and public health requirements, such as requirements for increased water recycling, load-based licensing by environmental regulators, and the additional requirements of the 2004 and 2011 Australian drinking water guidelines have all contributed.

The National Water Commission says rising operating costs reflect the impacts of some hefty investments in new infrastructure to secure and diversify supplies.

“This means Australians are entering a new era where many people can move past the days of restrictions and rely on diverse and robust water sources from water providers that are focused on efficiency; productivity and improving the liveability and health of communities,” Water Services Association of Australia Executive Director, Adam Lovell, said

The reports are produced each year to gauge the efficiency and performance of water utilities – gathering the information independently and releasing it publicly to ensure water authorities perform their duties in an open and accountable way.

It is a style of reporting and publication that many would encourage as widespread governmental practice, detailing the state of industries with a strong public interest.

The urban report provides data from 81 reporting utilities servicing 18.7 million Australians. It is prepared by the National Water Commission, all state and territory governments, and the Water Services Association of Australia.

The rural report covers 11 rural water service providers and is produced in conjunction with state governments.