Queensland’s 14th water and sewerage benchmarking report has been completed using 2023/24 data and is available from the links below.
Following positive feedback from members, the report is again being published as a package that includes two sets of slides formatted for display with charts for all water reporting entities separated into (1) medium, large and extra-large service providers (>1,000 connections), and (2) small and indigenous service providers. The package includes a document providing explanatory notes and additional insights that should be read in conjunction with the charts. The slide deck and explanatory report contains a suite of indicators and benchmarking data for all 72 of Queensland’s council owned urban water/sewerage utilities.
Please download all three documents for the complete package.
State Benchmarking Report 2023-24 Explanatory Notes - Release Date 03-Feb-2025: - Explanatory notes for the 14th annual Urban Potable Water and Sewerage Benchmarking Report using data captured and reported to the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers.
State Benchmarking Report 2023-24 MLXL - Release Date 03-Feb-2025: - 2023-24 Benchmarking Report for Medium, Large and Extra Large Service Providers
State Benchmarking Report 2023-24 SIND - Release Date 03-Feb-2025: - 2023-24 State Benchmarking Report for Small and Indigenous service providers
This was the tenth year Service Providers in the State reported via the Key Performance Indicators Reporting Framework.
The benchmarking of Queensland’s water and sewerage data allows competition by comparison and is nationally and internationally accepted as the best tool to improve the water and sewage industry.
Benchmarking is essential to maintain an effective and efficient water industry and is common in other jurisdictions, nationally and in other countries. For example:
With amendments to the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act in June 2014, a number of new reporting dates and requirements have been introduced. There has been some confusion expressed by members due to the terminology used in the Act and we hope that this reference table will assist our members.
Most reports and plans must be made available for inspection and purchase but a number of documents must now be published online including Drinking Water Quality Management Plan Reports.
Reporting on performance is essential for water utilities, which are natural monopolies, to provide surety and transparency to consumers as well as to satisfy regulatory requirements and allow benchmarking and competition by comparison.
All service providers report to the Regulator and provide annual reports and Council reports. Reporting on specified water and performance indicators is also required under legislation by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Bureau of Meteorology and the National Water Accounting Framework.
In Queensland, all larger (>10,000 connections) Service Providers are required to report through the National Performance Reporting (NPR) framework (which is not available to smaller utilities).
A collective approach to managing and distributing water performance indicators was commenced by qldwater in 2008 through the SWIM program.
SWIM was developed by qldwater, on behalf of Water Service Providers, to simplify the task of water data reporting. With your support and use of SWIM, we can continue to encourage government water data reporting to be rationalised and streamlined. We urge you to submit your annual water data through swimlocal on time so that its future as a water-industry-driven system is assured.
We welcome your feedback on SWIM. For more information please contact David Scheltinga.
NPR Indicators and Definitions Handbook 2025 - Release Date 21-May-2025: - National Performance Report Framework: Water and wastewater service providers performance indicators and definitions handbook version 1.2
State Benchmarking Report 2023-24 Explanatory Notes - Release Date 03-Feb-2025: - Explanatory notes for the 14th annual Urban Potable Water and Sewerage Benchmarking Report using data captured and reported to the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers.
State Benchmarking Report 2023-24 MLXL - Release Date 03-Feb-2025: - 2023-24 Benchmarking Report for Medium, Large and Extra Large Service Providers
State Benchmarking Report 2023-24 SIND - Release Date 03-Feb-2025: - 2023-24 State Benchmarking Report for Small and Indigenous service providers
Guidance Memo for Bulk Water Authorities 2024-25 - Release Date 03-Jul-2024: -
NPR Indicators and Definitions Handbook 2024 - Release Date 03-Jul-2024: -
DRDMW NPR Reporting Fact Sheet - Release Date 27-Mar-2024: - Changes to reporting requirements - participation in the National Performance Report Fact Sheet
Essentials Webinar NPR Changes - Release Date 21-Mar-2024: -
In this presentation David steps through the upcoming changes to NPR Reporting using the Statewide Water Information Management (SWIM) system. The changes will impact the annual reporting requirements for water service providers, including those with less than 10,000 connections who will need to start reporting to the NPR from 2025 with data collected from 1 July 2024.
The take home messages were:
State Benchmarking Report 2022-23 SIND - Release Date 05-Jan-2024: - 2022-23 State Benchmarking Report for Small and Indigenous service providers
State Benchmarking Report 2022-23 MLXL - Release Date 05-Jan-2024: - 2022-23 Benchmarking Report for Medium, Large and Extra Large Service Providers
State Benchmarking Report 2022-23 Explanatory Notes - Release Date 05-Jan-2024: - Explanatory notes for the 13th annual Urban Potable Water and Sewerage Benchmarking Report using data captured and reported to the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water (RDMW).
Guidance Memo NPR 2024-25 for service providers with less than 10000 connections - Release Date 20-Sep-2023: - The National Performance Report 2024-25 reports for the period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 and applied to water and wastewater service providers with less than 10,000 connection properties.
National Performance Report Framework Water and Wastewater Service Providers 2023 - Release Date 20-Sep-2023: -
This document is to be read alongside the National Performance Report Framework: water and wastewater service providers, performance indicators and definitions handbook 2023. It is a guide for existing reporting entities regarding the review process. It compares the performance indicators in the 2023 handbook with the 2018 handbook and provides guidance for adapting collection systems to effectively capture relevant data for the updated performance indicator set. The 2023 handbook comes into effect from the 2024-25 reporting year. For reporting years before 2024-25, the 2018 handbook applies. However, during the 2023-24 reporting year, some indicators have been retired in anticipation of the changes outlined in the 2023 handbook.
2022-23 Urban NPR Reporting Memo - Release Date 26-Jun-2023: - National Performance Framework (NPR) Reporting Memo for the 2022-23 reporting period
2022-23 Urban NPR Handbook - Release Date 26-Jun-2023: - National Performance Framework (NPR) Handbook with indicators and definitions for the 2022-23 reporting period
State Benchmarking Report 2021-22 MLXL - Release Date 31-Jan-2023: - 2021-22 Benchmarking Report for Medium, Large and Extra Large Service Providers
State Benchmarking Report 2021-22 Explanatory Notes - Release Date 31-Jan-2023: - State Benchmarking Report 2021-22 - Explanatory Notes
State Benchmarking Report 2021-22 SIND - Release Date 31-Jan-2023: - State Benchmarking Report 2021-22 for Small and Indigenous service providers
State Benchmarking Report 2020-21 Explanatory Notes - Release Date 04-Feb-2022: - 2020-21 SWIM Benchmarking Report Explanatory Notes
State Benchmarking Report 2020-21 MLXL - Release Date 04-Feb-2022: - 2020-21 SWIM Benchmarking Report for Medium, Large and Extra Large Service Providers in Queensland
State Benchmarking Report 2020-21 SIND - Release Date 04-Feb-2022: -
2020-21 SWIM Benchmarking Report for Small and Indigenous Council Service Providers in Queensland
State Benchmarking Report 2019-20 Explanatory Report - Release Date 09-Feb-2021: - This document provides explanatory notes and additional insights into the data that should be read in conjunction with the PowerPoint charts. This explanatory report (and charts) contain a suite of indicators and benchmarking data for all 72 of Queensland’s council owned urban water/sewerage utilities.
State Benchmarking Report 2019-20 MLXL - Release Date 09-Feb-2021: - This PowerPoint document contains charts for a suite of indicators and benchmarking data for Medium (1,000 to <10,000 connections), Large (10,000 to 50,000) and Extra-large (>50,000) service providers.
State Benchmarking Report 2019-20 SIND - Release Date 09-Feb-2021: - This PowerPoint document contains charts for a suite of indicators and benchmarking data for Small (<1,000 connections) and Indigenous service providers.
SWIM NPR Reporting Memo 2019-20 - Release Date 19-Aug-2020: - National Performance Framework (NPR) urban reporting memo 2019-20
SWIM-Urban-NPR-Indicators-Definitions-Handbook - Release Date 19-Aug-2020: - National urban water utility performance reporting framework: Indicators and definitions handbook (2020 minor corrections version)
QG KPI Definitions Guide 2020 - Release Date 16-Jul-2020: - Queensland Government Key Performance Indicators Definitions Guide - released July 2020
DNRME Drought Survey Reporting Guide - Release Date 14-Jul-2020: - DNRME guide to fortnightly water supply reporting 2019
DNRME Guide to 4-monthly water security survey - Release Date 14-Jul-2020: - Queensland Government Drought and Water Security Reporting - 4-monthly water security survey reporting guide released June 2020.
SWIM Indicator Definitions 2020 - Release Date 14-Jul-2020: - List of all indicators reported via SWIM
SWIM Indicator Definitions 2019-20 - Release Date 10-Jul-2020: -
SWIM Indicator Definitions 2019-20 XLS - Release Date 10-Jul-2020: -
State Benchmarking Report 2018-19 - Release Date 14-Dec-2019: - This is the ninth annual Urban Potable Water and Sewerage Benchmarking Report for Queensland. Produced by qldwater, it contains a suite of indicators and benchmarking data for all 72 of Queensland’s urban water/sewerage utilities. The data is presented in figures that provide comparative information to enable each service provider to compare its performance against that of similar sized service providers.
Greenhouse Gas Calculator 2019 - Release Date 02-Sep-2019: - Greenhouse Gas Calculator 2019
State Benchmarking Report 2017-18 - Release Date 04-Mar-2019: - The eighth annual Queensland Urban Potable Water and Sewerage Benchmarking Report contains a suite of indicators and benchmarking data for 70 of Queensland’s 71 urban water/sewerage utilities. The report provides comparative information to enable each Service Provider to compare its performance against that of similar sized Service Providers.
NPR Guidance Memo 2018 - Release Date 17-Jul-2018: -
SWIM Technical guidelines for estimation of GHG emissions - Release Date 26-Jul-2018: -
National Performance Reporting Framework Indicators Definitions Handbook 2018 - Release Date 17-Jul-2018: - National urban water utility performance framework: Indicators and definitions handbook 2018.
NPR Indicators and Definitions Release Notes 2018 - Release Date 17-Jul-2018: -
SWIM Indicator Definitions 2018 - Release Date 17-Jul-2018: -
SWIM Indicator Definitions 2018 Excel - Release Date 17-Jul-2018: -
SWIM Indicator Definitions All Years - Release Date 17-Jul-2018: -
SWIMLocal Annual Data Tool User Manual 2018 - Release Date 17-Jul-2018: -
SWIM Summary Indicator Changes from Last Year - Release Date 17-Jul-2018: -
SWIM NGER Wastewater Greenhouse Gas calculator - Release Date 26-Jul-2018: -
State Benchmarking Report 2016-17 - Release Date 27-Mar-2018: - The seventh annual Queensland Urban Potable Water and Sewerage Benchmarking Report produced by qldwater contains a suite of indicators and benchmarking data for 71 of Queensland’s urban water/sewerage utilities. The data is presented in figures which provide comparative information to enable each Service Provider to compare its performance against that of similar sized Service Providers.
BoM Category 7 Handbook 2017 - Release Date 30-Jun-2017: - BoM Category 7 Handbook 2017
SWIM Indicator Definitions 2016-17 - Release Date 05-Sep-2017: - SWIM Indicator Definitions for 2016-17
State Benchmarking Report 2015-2016 - Release Date 24-Feb-2017: - The sixth annual Urban Potable Water and Sewerage Benchmarking Report produced by qldwater contains a suite of indicators and benchmarking data for 71 of Queensland’s urban water/sewerage utilities.
SWIM KPI Definitions Guide November 2016 - Release Date 01-Nov-2016: - Key performance indicators for annual performance reporting for Queensland urban water service providers - definitions guide November 2016.
Fact or Furphey Factsheet Oct 2016 - Release Date 12-Oct-2016: - Fact or Furphey - Making sense of water and sewerage services. An overview of KPI data captured by DEWS and offers explanations about possible data inconsistencies.
NPR Guidance Memo 2015-16 - Release Date 01-Aug-2016: -
NPR indicators and definitions handbook 2016 - Release Date 01-Aug-2016: -
SWIM Data Retrieval Tool User Manual - Release Date 01-Aug-2016: -
SWIM Indicator Definitions 2015-16 - Release Date 01-Aug-2016: -
SWIM Indicator Definitions 2015-16 Excel - Release Date 01-Aug-2016: -
SWIMLocal Annual Data Tool User Manual - Release Date 01-Aug-2016: -
SWIM Metadata Help File 2016 - Release Date 01-Aug-2016: -
SWIM QG KPI definitions - Release Date 01-Aug-2016: -
SWIM Ecoli calculation tool - Release Date 10-Mar-2016: -
SWIM Metadata Help File - Release Date 10-Mar-2016: - SWIM Metadata is information used to assist in the interpretation of data, including location information for a monitoring site and information about the methods used to generate the data. This document outlines the metadata used in the SWIM system.
State Benchmarking Report 2014-2015 - Release Date 08-Mar-2016: - The 5th annual Urban Potable Water and Sewerage Benchmarking Report produced by qldwater contains a suite of indicators and benchmarking data for 58 of Queensland's Service Providers. The report provide comparative information to benchmark performance amongst similar sized service providers.
Fact or Furphey KPI - Release Date 29-Sep-2015: - This fact sheet or the information it contains may be useful for communicating further with customers concerned with the new KPI reporting system being introduced by The Department of Energy and Water Supply (DEWS). Results will be publicly available, giving communities an overview of the general state of their water and sewerage infrastructure and services. The easy to understand Q&A format offers possible explanations for questions arising from data.
Fact or Furphey KPI Word Version - Release Date 29-Sep-2015: - The Fact or Furphey fact sheet is available in Word version in the member-only section of the site for members who want to adapt it and brand the information themselves.
2013-2014 Benchmarking Report - Release Date 27-Mar-2015: - The 4th annual Urban Potable Water and Sewerage Benchmarking Report produced by qldwater provide comparative information to benchmark performance against similar sized serviced providers.
SWIM Annual List of Indicators 2015 - Release Date 06-Mar-2015: -
NPR indicators and definitions handbook - Release Date 30-Jul-2014: - This Handbook provides detailed definitions for all indicators included in the National Performance Report to ensure consistency in reporting across jurisdictions.
2012-2013 Benchmarking Report - Release Date 24-Jun-2014: - Queensland’s Urban Potable Water and Sewerage Benchmarking Report 2012/13 This is the third annual Urban Potable Water and Sewerage Benchmarking Report to be produced by qldwater for Queensland.
NPR Auditing Requirements - Release Date 13-Mar-2014: - These audit requirements are designed to guide water utilities, jurisdictional audit coordinators and external auditors (NPR participants) in the conduct of audits of NPR performance data. Auditing is intended to provide enhanced confidence in the accuracy, completeness and reliability of reported information.
2011-2012 Benchmarking Report - Release Date 26-Mar-2013: - Queensland’s Urban Potable Water and Sewerage Benchmarking Report 2011/12 is the second annual Urban Potable Water and Sewerage Benchmarking Report to be produced by qldwater for Queensland.
Queensland’s Urban Potable Water and Sewerage Benchmarking Report – Trial 2010/11 - Release Date 15-Oct-2012: - Queensland’s inaugural Urban Potable Water and Sewerage Benchmarking Report – Trial using 2010/11 data
SWIM Users Manual - Release Date 09-Jul-2012: - SWIM User's Manual 2012
SWIM Indicator Definitions - Release Date 30-Jun-2012: - Definitions and related information for SWIM indicators.
Annotated List of Regulatory Reporting Requirements Updated March 2012 - Release Date 31-Mar-2011: - Annotated list of reporting requirements for Queensland Service Providers. This list was updated in March 2012 and supersedes all previous copies.
Greenhouse Gas Calculator 2011 - Release Date 01-Nov-2018: -
Position Description - SWIM Project Officer Position - Release Date 14-Sep-2011: - qldwater are advertising for the SWIM Project Officer Position. Full details on attached position description with expressions of interest due by Tuesday 18 October 2011.
SWIM Data quality control practices - Release Date 09-May-2011: - Data Quality Control Practices for Implementation in the Queensland Water Industry describes a set of practices that has been identified by qldwater in consultation with SPs. This document aims to provide guidelines describing the use of those quality control practices, in a form that users may immediately adopt to improve local Quality Control Practices. This information is being provided in the form of a document that is ready to be incorporated in to SP operational procedures to make it easie
SWIM Greenhouse Gas Calculator - Release Date 17-Mar-2011: - NSW Greenhouse gas calculator 2011
SWIM Indicator Handbook - Release Date 12-Oct-2009: - SWIM has been designed to streamline reporting of five major reports. This document summarises the number of indicators required to satisfy complete reporting for each of the five reports, and demonstrates the benefits of streamlined reporting through SWIM.