And like the others, it doesn't want free water. It just wants a fair go.

The home of Canberra's cricket and Australian football spends about $70,000 a year on water, which Phillip Oval management group chairman Paul Walshe said was about 40 per cent of their operating budget.

He's called on Icon Water and the ACT government to come to the party, saying water bills were killing community organisations.

Long term, Mr Walshe said there needed to be affordable recycled water and in the meantime they needed help with their water bills.

He pointed to South Australia, where the government has given coronavirus subsidies for water use.

Plus Canberra's water rates are the highest in the country, with only Perth coming close.

Mr Walshe said they paid $2.46 for their first 50 kilolitres per quarter, but then that jumped to $4.94/kl after that - more than double what they pay in Sydney ($2.35).

It's the same as what Canberra households pay.

Even recycled water wasn't cheap, with Icon Water charging $3.71/kl - but without a lower rate for the first 50kl.

Perth's rates start at $1.82 and then jump to $4.55 and Adelaide was next most expensive for a capital city with rates going from $2.39 to $3.69.

Mr Walshe will meet with ACT Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Shane Rattenbury about the issue in January.

He thought it was something Chief Minister Andrew Barr was looking into, but his office didn't return The Canberra Times' calls.

"It's killing a lot of community organisations, a lot of golf clubs. It's ridiculous what we pay," Mr Walshe said.

"We have done everything we possibly can to reduce our water usage, but the cost is just killing us.

"There doesn't seem to be a strategy around it.

"Medium to long term, how can we use non-potable water. That's got to be out long-term goal - not to use town water to water our ovals.

"In the short to medium term, what can Icon Water do? If you're a community organisation, can we get a reduction?

"We're not looking for free water, we just want a fair go."

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The ACT government spent $4.6 million upgrading Phillip Oval, with AFL and cricket chipping in $1.6 million between them, but Walshe said that would all be wasted if they couldn't afford to water it.

Especially given how good a surface it was, with former Australian international Dan Christian full of praise for the ground.

"He said it's one of the best in the country. He said it'd beat any urban ground and it'd be up there with some of the state grounds," Mr Walshe said.

"It's no Adelaide Oval or anything like that, but from the surface point of view he said it's very, very good.

"If we don't water it mate, it dies. Then it's going to cost you more money to get it back."

The Canberra Times revealed that water rates played a big role in the closure of the ACT's premier soccer stadium, McKellar Park.

It's forced W-League team Canberra United to move home games away from their spiritual home to Viking Park.

Canberra's golf clubs have also been struggling, with Belconnen saying they could be forced to close next year if something wasn't done.

Mr Walshe said community facilities played an especially important role in keeping everyone active, as well as helping their mental health.

"We talk about coming out of COVID, about people's health and well-being, and about what sport can do to help people get back into society," he said.

"Young kids, adults, whatever it may be. We restrict them because of the financial costs associated with it.

"Everyone's saying sport's so important as we come out of COVID. Well if it is so important - help us."