CENTRAL Highlands Water prices will rise by 7 per cent in 2011-12, adding an extra $66 a year to the average household budget.Essential Services Commission prices released yesterday show water prices across the state will rise by between 5 and 15 per cent to help fund drought relief projects, including Ballarat’s $20 million contribution to the Goldfields Superpipe.Central Highlands Water spokeswoman Nicky McMaster said a five-year Central Highlands Water plan set by the ESC — the water industry’s independent economic regulator — in 2007 capped annual price rises at 3.1 per cent.However, she said the 2011-12 price had to also factor in a CPI rise of 3.33 per cent.Over the past four years, Central Highlands Water prices have risen by 7.3 per cent in 2007, 10.1 in 2008, 5 per cent in 2009 and 6 per cent last year.“The plan featured a record investment of $400 million in programs in 2008-2013 to continue to secure the region’s water and waste water services,” Ms McMaster said.These included recycling, waste water treatment and sewerage treatment systems to help fight the drought, as well as the superpipe.The current water access fee will remain at $211.61 while the water volume charges will be $1.49 per kilolitre up to 150 kilolitres, $1.78 per kilolitre for between 151 to 300 kilolitres and $2.23 per kilolitre for more than 301 kilolitres.Ms McMaster said Ballarat’s low consumption level of an annual average of 126 kilolitres per household was not taken into consideration.“Our consumption levels don’t have an impact on the price increase as the water plan was set in 2007 and this will be year four of the approved five-year water plan,” she said.The highest water price increase across Victoria was 15 per cent by Yarra Valley Water.Lower Murray Water customers, which includes Swan Hill and Mildura, and Coliban Water customers in Bendigo have the lowest price rise of 5 per cent.Barwon Water in the Geelong region will increase its prices by 11 per cent while Wannon Water in Warrnambool will go up by 13 per cent.