New tool to help track water use

Tuesday 30 April, 2019

New equipment will soon be added to Tamworth Regional Council’s water sustainability toolbox with Councillors giving the go ahead for a trial of automated meter reading.

It was one of a range of additional ongoing water sustainability actions endorsed by Councillors at tonight’s meeting along with an allocation of $210,000 from the Water Reserve to fund them.

Other actions detailed in the report include:

Offering rebates of up to $100 for residential water customers to engage a plumber to undertake an audit of their home and identify leaks or potential opportunities for water efficiency improvements; Engaging a specialist to provide updated groundwater modelling to confirm volumes which may be yielded and identify any additional sources to supplement the Scott Road Drift Well supply; Undertaking an independent water audit of Council properties and operations to identify further efficiencies; and, Creating additional resources for community education about water sustainability.

Tamworth Region Acting Mayor Phil Betts said the automated meter reading trial will start next Monday when the first of 100 devices will be installed.

“The devices will give us an effective additional tool as part of our water sustainability measures in this terrible ongoing drought,” he said.

“Rather than the traditional means of water meter reading which requires someone to physically visit every meter to read the numbers and work out the water consumption volume, an automated meter can be read remotely at any time.

“The rapid reading of each water meter will allow Council to more accurately gauge the treated water consumption at a property. The data is captured in specific intervals (including minutes, hours days) and can allow Council to identify properties which may have leaking pipes or are not following the water restriction rules.”

Cr Betts said in the near future Council will call Expressions of Interest for the supply of Automated Meter Readers across the Tamworth Region. A report including outcomes of the trial will be considered by Councillors when they make a decision on whether to proceed.

“Unfortunately we will be living with this drought for some time and Council is doing everything we can to ensure everyone in community continues to have the water they need,” he said. “We are focused on taking the actions needed to secure our region’s water security as this devastating drought continues.”