Smart Water Meters to Be Trialled in Tairua

A method to measure water use is to be trialled at selected properties around Tairua. The project will help look at ways to improve water conservation and better manage water infrastructure maintenance.

Approximately 300 (25%) of Tairua properties will have smart meters installed in the trial which will run from May and continue for a year.

"The trial will help us better understand the differences in water consumption between commercial/industrial, residential and absentee/holiday properties," says Council Infrastructure Manager Bruce Hinson. "It will allow for better and more frequent data collection and also reduces human error," says Mr Hinson.

This is also part of our resource consent requirement from the Waikato Regional Council to manage the distribution of water to the best of our ability.

A smart meter is a mechanical meter fixed with a transmitter unit that sends a wavelength pulse to a receiver. The receiver can typically capture the signal within 50m-100m of its position and means a meter reader doesn't have to come on site and open meter boxes.

"Properties where smart meters are to be installed have been selected through information from our Council databases," says Mr Hinson. "This was to ensure we covered a range of property types from commercial and residential to absentee and permanent ratepayers," he says.

Properties were also chosen based on a variety of locations within the water supply network as different locations around Tairua experience different water pressure due to the geography of the land.

"They may be some instances where a small amount of digging may be required so that smart meters can be moved outside of the property boundary, onto Council property," says Mr Hinson. "Where that's the case we'll be working with individual property owners and reinstating the land at Council's cost."

Photographic evidence will also be taken before and after the work.

Council is now in touch with property owners involved in the trial and will also ensure communication with individual property owners occurs where earth works may be required.

ENDS

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