But Clubs ACT chief executive Gwyn Rees was unsure if the ACT government had an appetite for it.

His solution was to allow sports grounds and golf courses to be treated like schools and churches when it comes to water rates.

That would see them only charged at the first tier for potable water - $2.46 per kilolitre - which jumps to $4.94/kl after the first 50kl used.

Rees' proposal would see community facilities only get charged at the lower rate - effectively cutting their bills in half.

The Canberra Times revealed how facilities like McKellar Park, Phillip Oval and Belconnen golf club were all struggling with the cost of water.

Ironically, the remaining recycled water Belconnen doesn't use, which it pays $3.71/kl for, gets pumped into the Murrumbidgee River and can then be accessed by NSW irrigators for about $0.01/kl.

The ACT government said they were looking into the problem, but were yet to come up with a solution.

Canberra has the highest rates of any Australian capital city, with even the cost of recycled water more expensive than potable water in most other states.

"The solution to the potable water could be as simple as allowing community facilities to be treated as schools and churches," Rees said.

"In the ACT, the utilities act provides a provision called a community service obligation.

"Under this provision schools and churches only pay the first-tier tariff with Icon Water.

"This would require the government to have an appetite for it, but these programs do run in other states and do apply to recreational facilities."

MORE CANBERRA SPORT

The government said community clubs who'd been financially impacted by last summer's bushfires, the smoke and the coronavirus pandemic could all apply for rebates on non-potable water and water abstraction charges from October 1 - for the next year.

There's also discounts and offsets relating to water abstraction charges.

The government was investigating how they could subsidise water rates in the future.

Especially given the pandemic highlighted the importance physical activity played in society.

"The government will examine charging options for high-intensity users of non-potable water, notably golf clubs and community managed sports ovals," an ACT government spokesperson said.

"There is a case to be made for public subsidy of these activities on the grounds of encouraging physical activity, social interaction and community building.

"Water is a scarce resource and isn't free to supply. The question that the government has to consider is the appropriate extent of any public subsidy towards these expenses."