I moved in to the place I'm currently renting about 19 years ago and back then, the '
user pays' system was not that common so no charge for water.
While I rent here in Sydney, I have a rental property in rural NSW for which the tenant also does not pay for water. Seemed the fair thing to do.
As a tenant, I do all the maintenance for the landlord *
As a landlord though, I don't want
my tenant to do this - bit of a double standard I know
* Except electrical or plumbing 'cos the landlord is a plumber and his son is an electrican