Water meters

Council has installed majority of domestic water meters underground. Generally, you can locate your water meter on the footpath along your front boundary either inside a small concrete box and lid or inside a green plastic box and lid.

Why is it important to know where my water meter is?

It is useful to know where your water meter is because the stop tap, which controls the flow of water to your house is also located inside the water meter box. In an emergency such as a broken water pipe or a need to change a tap washer inside your property, you can use the stop tap to turn off the water supply to your house.

Should you wish to relocate your water meter due to it being positioned in a location where there is heavy traffic or you are planning to install a driveway, Council can replace your current plastic or concrete meter box with a steel one. This will prevent any damage to the meter and stop tap located in the meter box when vehicles drive over.

Alternatively, by contacting Council Water Services Planning and Delivery team, we can provide guidance on whether the relocation of your water connection is necessary and the process involved, if required. Any requests to relocate a water meter connection will be at the property owners’ expense and requires an application process for Council to commence the works.

The application process includes submitting a Notice to Service Provider Application for Water & Sewer to Council with a supporting plan of the new proposed location. When the application has been received and assessed, fees will be issued for payment before work can commence.

Notice to service provider application form

There are several different types of water meters used throughout the Bundaberg Region. These water meters appear slightly different to one another but all can be read the same way. The meter measures how much water is used per property in metric. The following details will help you in reading your water meter.

The black numbers on your water meter represent kilolitres (kL). One kilolitre (kL) equals 1000 litres (L). This is the unit of measurement our meter readers record as your meter reading. We then use this reading to calculate your bill. The white numbers on the red dials represent litres.

1. Make sure all taps on your property are off and the meter numbers are not moving (if they are moving you may have a leak).
2. Record the reading on your meter, from left to right. There are should be a series of black numbers and then red numbers. The black numbers are kilolitres. The red numbers are 100's of litres, 10's of litres and then litres. If your meter has four red dials the fourth dial is a decimal, or tenths of litres.
3. When you have recorded the reading, carefully measure 20 litres into a bucket from one of your taps.
4. Re-read your meter and record the reading. The reading on the second red dial should have progress by two units and the third dial should not have changed

A water meter accuracy test can be completed by Bundaberg Regional Council by completing the below form:-

Water Meter Accuracy Investigation Request Form

 Water Services expects we will investigate your request within three (3) business days of lodgement and payment of the testing fee. If we are unable to meet this timeframe because of priority works you will be contacted to discuss when Council will be able to attend. 

If Council officers believe an internal water leak may be present you will be notified on site or through a blue form placed in your letterbox. Council does not investigate internal leaks beyond identify the water meter is turning when no water is suspected to be in use. We recommend carrying out your own investigation or engaging a licenced plumber to  confirm if a leak is present. All costs for investigations and repairs to private plumbing are the responsibility of the property owner. Repairs to plumbing must only be carried out by a licenced plumber. Please check the 'How to check for water leaks' and 'I have a leak, what can I do?' section of the BRC Water meters link below. 

Where the water meter is registering either correctly or in the favour of the applicant (under recording), no refund will be made to the applicant.  Should the test results prove that a meter is registering incorrectly, we will organise a refund of the prescribed fee to the applicant where the water meter is registering greater than 5% in favour of the Council (i.e. meter is running "fast").

If you are unhappy with the outcome of Council's on site testing we are able to offer independent testing at a NATA accredited laboratory. You will be required to lodge a new Customer Request through our website, over the phone or at one of our customer service centres. Details on this process and a quotation for the cost of testing will be provided after receiving your request. 

Your water meter can help you detect possible leaks inside your property. A simple check involves turning off all taps, such as the washing machine, dishwasher, irrigation at your property, including the tap connecting cold water to the hot water system. Check that there are no visible leaks in and around your house and check that the toilet is not filling after a recent flush. Return to the meter and if you see any of the numbers are still recording, this indicates that water is flowing from an outlet on your side of the water service.

Please note, slow leaks may not be immediately visible on the water meter. For an accurate check, it is advised you ensure all fittings and fixtures are turned off. Obtain a meter reading and return approximately one hour later, to determine any movement which would indicate a slow leak.

This leak may be in a water pipe under the house or underground or may be a toilet cistern leaking into the pedestal. To check for cistern leaks, put a few drops of food colouring in the cistern, leave it overnight without flushing and if the water in the pedestal is coloured in the morning, there is a leak.

An underground leak may not show up as a green patch in the lawn, as this can depend on weather conditions and soil types. Licensed plumbers are experienced in ways of finding leaks underground. Please note that it is the owner’s responsibility to fix water leaks on private property.

All leaks, including concealed leaks, on private property are the property owner's responsibility to investigate and repair. All water pipes and fittings from the water meter on to private property are the property owner's responsibility to maintain. Please refer to image (below).

To stop water being wasted on your property if you have a leak, you can temporarily turn the stop tap off at your water meter. Ensure that all taps are turned off and appliances which use water, are not in operation to avoid any damage.

You may be eligible to apply for a reduction in your water charges under Council's Water Leak Relief Policy. Under this policy, the property owner may receive a reduction in water consumption charges resulting from the water leak, provided the following criteria are met:

1. The leak must be repaired within 15 working days from the date of advice
2. The leak must be repaired by a registered plumber
3. An application must be lodged together with the registered plumber’s account within 60 days of having the leak repaired
4. You may submit one water relief application every three years.
5. The water leak must be undetectable and must not be within a building.

Please ensure the above criteria have been satisfied prior to submission of your application, to avoid the possibility of your application being declined through non-compliance.

• Water leak relief application form
• Water leak relief policy(PDF, 695KB)

What is a water meter?

A water meter is used to measure the amount of water that each property uses.

Where is my water meter located?

Your meter is usually found out the front of your residence, near the front boundary of your property inside a meter box.

How do I read my water meter?

The black numbers on your water meter represent kilolitres (kL). One kilolitre (kL) equals 1000 litres (L). This is the unit of measurement our meter readers record as your meter reading. We then use this reading to calculate your bill. The white numbers on the red dials represent litres.

How often is my water meter read?

We read your water meter half yearly (i.e. every six months or roughly 183 days). The number of days between meter reads can differ because we may not be able to read your meter on exactly the same dates in each half year. This can be due to operational reasons or other factors, including bad weather, locked gates or a dog unsecured on your property. This means that the number of days you are charged for your water consumption may vary by up to 14 days. To ensure the best possible outcome there are ways that you can help. The most important benefit is to make sure that the water meter box is visible to the readers by way of removing grass and mulch and pruning overgrown plants around the meter box. If you have a dog, please secure it away from the meter area during reading periods..

Why was my meter replaced?

Council replaces water meters for a number of reasons including; when the amount of water not being registered becomes too great, the meter stop registering altogether, the meter is damaged or difficult to read, etc.

Is my new meter accurate?

As required by Law, water meters used by Council comply with or exceed accuracy standards as specified by the National Measurement Institute (NMI) design and all meters have Pattern approval. The National Measurement Institute's M 10-2 specifies water accuracy must be within ±2.5% across the flowrate range. Further information is available at: measurement.gov.au. Most water meters register slightly less than the actual water being used and this loss generally increases as the meter wears with use and age.

Will my new water meter affect my water bill?

If your previous water meter has not been recording all of the water that you have been using, your previous water rates will have been less than what has actually been used. This may have occurred for several rating periods. As the new water meter is accurately recording all of the water you are using your water consumption may appear to increase, resulting in increased water charges. We recommend you monitor your water usage by regularly reading your new water meter to establish your current registered use against previous bills. Should you have any further questions please contact Council's Customer Service Officers on 1300 883 699.

How can I check if my water meter is accurate?

Make sure all taps on your property are off and the meter numbers are not moving (if they are moving you may have a leak). Record the reading on your meter, from left to right there are should be a series of black numbers and then red numbers. The black numbers are kilolitres. The red numbers are 100's of litres, 10's of litres and then litres. If your meter has four red dials the fourth dial is a decimal, or tenths of litres. When you have recorded the reading, carefully measure 20 litres into a bucket from one of your taps. Re-read your meter and record the reading. The reading on the second red dial should have progress by two units and the third dial should not have changed.

A water meter accuracy test can be completed by Bundaberg Regional Council by completing the below form:-

Water Meter Accuracy Investigation Request Form

Water Services expects we will investigate your request within three (3) business days of lodgement and payment of the testing fee. If we are unable to meet this timeframe because of priority works you will be contacted to discuss when Council will be able to attend.

If Council officers believe an internal water leak may be present you will be notified on site or through a blue form placed in your letterbox. Council does not investigate internal leaks beyond identify the water meter is turning when no water is suspected to be in use. We recommend carrying out your own investigation or engaging a licenced plumber to  confirm if a leak is present. All costs for investigations and repairs to private plumbing are the responsibility of the property owner. Repairs to plumbing must only be carried out by a licenced plumber. Please check the 'How to check for water leaks' and 'I have a leak, what can I do?' section of the BRC Water meters link above.

Where the water meter is registering either correctly or in the favour of the applicant (under recording), no refund will be made to the applicant.  Should the test results prove that a meter is registering incorrectly, we will organise a refund of the prescribed fee to the applicant where the water meter is registering greater than 5% in favour of the Council (i.e. meter is running "fast").

If you are unhappy with the outcome of Council's on site testing we are able to offer independent testing at a NATA accredited laboratory. You will be required to lodge a new Customer Request through our website, over the phone or at one of our customer service centres. Details on this process and a quotation for the cost of testing will be provided after receiving your request. 

Will my new water meter affect my water bill?

If your previous water meter has not been recording all of the water that you have been using, your previous water rates will have been less than what has actually been used. This may have occurred for several rating periods. As the new water meter is accurately recording all of the water you are using your water consumption may appear to increase, resulting in increased water charges. We recommend you monitor your water usage by regularly reading your new water meter to establish your current registered use against previous bills. If you have any further questions please contact Council's Customer Service Officers on 1300 883 699.

How soon after my meter is read do I receive my bill?

Your water consumption is charged on your Council Rate Notice.

What am I responsible for maintaining?

You are responsible for maintaining the pipes and other water infrastructure on the "house" side of the meter.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your meter (box) is accessible.  The meter must be at ground level.  Please do not fill the area around the meter or cover it with garden beds, trees, shrubs or other matter.  Please contact Bundaberg Regional Council if your meter or meter box is damaged or if you notice water leaking around the meter.

You must:

• keep the water meter box and protective lid in good condition
• keep the water meter and stoptap accessible and free from dirt and debris
• keep a one meter clearance around your water meter so we can safely read and repair your meter
• protect the isolation valve/ball valve and water meter from damage (you may be charged for the cost to repair damage to the water meter, isolation valve/ball valve, water meter box or lid)
• engage a licensed plumber for all plumbing work (although you may change tap washers without engaging a licensed plumber)
• ensure all plumbing work connected to the Council network is compliant with Plumbing & Drainage Act 2002 (for more information refer to Queensland Building & Construction Commission)

My meter is full of dirt. How did you read it?

Council's meter readers will read the meter even when the meter box is full of dirt.  They have been requested to remove enough dirt to read the meter and replace the dirt back in the meter box.  The site will be left in the same condition as they arrived.

Maintaining a free and clear meter box is the responsibility of owner.  Should the occupier experience a significant water leak, it is of benefit to keep the stoptap easily accessible allowing you to turn the water off quickly.

My meter box is full of native bees. What should I do?

During certain times of the year, Australian native bees may colonise Council meter boxes. While these bees provide low risk to yourself and our meter readers, they can impede on our ability to read the meter. If you have a colony in your meter box, please call us on 1300 883 699 so we can arrange for removal and relocate the colony safely.

How often should I check my water meter?

Council encourages residents to check their water meters and record their readings regularly, e.g. when mowing. Early leak detection and repair will reduce your water consumption costs.