Grey District Council has nearly completed the first stage of installing smart water meters on the Greater Greymouth water supply. A further 130 properties will follow in stage two, bringing the total to 250.
The installation of smart meters is part of Council’s approved Long Term Plan (LTP), with full rollout scheduled in years 6, 7 and 8 of the plan. This trial of 250 meters is being used to gather data and demonstrate to Council the type of information that can be recorded. Council staff are currently analysing the data to establish average household water use, identify anomalies, and detect possible leaks as part of the overall leak reduction programme. This information will help build a clearer picture of water use across the district and support future decision-making.
The new smart meters replace the older units, which had to be read manually. The updated meters can be read remotely using vehicle-based equipment that sends data directly to a tablet for analysis and upload.
There are no plans to begin billing residents for water use. While the smart meters have the capability to be used for billing in the future, their current purpose is to collect accurate data and support better management of the water supply.
Residents are encouraged to look out for leaks and repair any leaks around their properties, as this not only helps conserve water but could also reduce household costs if billing is introduced in the longer term. Even small leaks can add up over time.
photo: New smart water meter installed in a toby box
photo: Paul Smith, Grey District Council, with the new vehicle-based meter reading equipment.
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For more information contact gdc_communications@greydc.govt.nz
