Water Supply: ABS business counts
ANZSIC class 2811, in the Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services division.
- Actively trading businesses in Water Supply (ANZSIC class 2811) across Australia, June 2025
- 593 businessesAustralian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, data cube 2, June 2025.
- Actively trading non-employing businesses in Water Supply (ANZSIC class 2811) across Australia, June 2025
- 344 businessesAustralian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, data cube 2, June 2025.
- ABS business entries in Water Supply (ANZSIC class 2811) across Australia: counted at June 2025 but not June 2024
- 40 businessesAustralian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, data cube 2, 2024-25.
- ABS business exits in Water Supply (ANZSIC class 2811) across Australia: counted at June 2024 but not June 2025
- 40 businessesAustralian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, data cube 2, 2024-25.
About these figures
- These ABS figures count actively trading businesses, not workers, sites or venues, each in its main state or territory.
- Entries and exits compare two 30 June counts. They are not counts of openings and closures.
- The ABS adjusts its counts slightly to protect confidentiality, so a small number or a zero is approximate, not proof that no such business exists.
Summary of the ABS class definition
In this class, the ABS counts businesses mainly engaged in the bulk storage or distribution of water. Also included are businesses mainly engaged in the treatment of water prior to or during distribution in the water supply system. The water supply system may include pumping stations, aqueducts and/or distribution mains.
Examples the ABS lists:
- Dam operation (water supply)
- Desalination plant operation
- Mineral water supply from the ground
- Water distribution by pipeline
- Water filtration plant operation
- Water reservoir operation
- Water supply for irrigation
- Water supply pumping station operation
- Water supply system operation
The ABS counts businesses mainly engaged in this related work in other classes:
- the construction or repair of water storage dams, mains or pumping stations are included in Class 3109 Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
- operating sewerage or drainage systems or sewage treatment plants are included in Class 2812 Sewerage and Drainage Services
- the purification and bottling of water for retail sale are included in Division C Manufacturing
- operating irrigation systems are included in Class 0529 Other Agriculture and Fishing Support Service
The ABS page for class 2811 gives the full definition and what the class leaves out.
By employment size
| Businesses | Count |
|---|---|
| All businesses | 593 businesses |
| Non-employing | 344 businesses |
| 1 to 4 employees | 122 businesses |
| 5 to 19 employees | 64 businesses |
| 20 to 199 employees | 43 businesses |
| 200 or more employees | 20 businesses |
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, data cube 2, June 2025. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
By turnover
| Businesses | Count |
|---|---|
| Zero to less than $50k | 205 businesses |
| $50k to less than $200k | 104 businesses |
| $200k to less than $2m | 156 businesses |
| $2m to less than $5m | 48 businesses |
| $5m to less than $10m | 10 businesses |
| $10m or more | 70 businesses |
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, data cube 3, June 2025. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
Entries and exits, 2024-25
| Businesses | Count |
|---|---|
| At the start of the year | 593 businesses |
| ABS business entries | 40 businesses |
| ABS business exits | 40 businesses |
| At the end of the year | 593 businesses |
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, data cube 2, 2024-25. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
By main state or territory
| Businesses | Count |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | 201 businesses |
| Victoria | 120 businesses |
| Queensland | 117 businesses |
| Western Australia | 78 businesses |
| South Australia | 55 businesses |
| Tasmania | 15 businesses |
| Australian Capital Territory | 0 businesses |
| Northern Territory | 4 businesses |
| Other Territories or Currently Unknown | 3 businesses |
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, data cube 2, June 2025. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
Sources
Counts of Australian Businesses, data cube 2: Businesses by main state by industry class by employment size ranges (8165DC02.xlsx). Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, including Entries and Exits, June 2021 to June 2025, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (CC BY 4.0). Released 16 December 2025, checked 15 October 2026.
Counts of Australian Businesses, data cube 3: Businesses by main state by industry class by turnover size ranges (8165DC03.xlsx). Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, including Entries and Exits, June 2021 to June 2025, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (CC BY 4.0). Released 16 December 2025, checked 16 October 2026.
Correspondence, GCCSA 2021 to GCCSA 2026 (CG_GCCSA_2021_GCCSA_2026.csv). Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 4, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (CC BY 4.0). Released 22 July 2026, checked 15 October 2026.
Greater Capital City Statistical Areas digital boundary file, 2026 (GCCSA_2026_AUST_SHP_GDA2020.zip). Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data, Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 4, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (CC BY 4.0). Released 22 July 2026, checked 15 October 2026.
Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006 (Revision 2.0): the detailed classification. Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data, Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006 (Revision 2.0), licensed under CC BY 4.0 (CC BY 4.0). Released 26 June 2013, checked 16 October 2026.
Get your books in order
Tell us how your business runs and we will suggest a bookkeeping plan that fits.