New Requirement For Meters Commencing 1 July 2025

As of Tuesday 1 July 2025, all Non-standard Water Approval applications lodged must nominate the size of each large water meter on submitted plans. (Note: you can start adding this information on applications now!)

If a development requires a different sized meter/s to that outlined in the Metering Guidelines, a sizing justification based on a Hydraulic Consultant's probable simultaneous demand calculation and reasons for higher demand than the Urban Utilities Metering Guidelines, must be provided when lodging the initial application. If the sizing justification provided is not acceptable to Urban Utilities, an IR may be issued and/or a condition will be applied to confirm the meter size to be used in construction, as part of the Decision Notice (DN). If no meter size is nominated and no IR needs to be issued on the application, the application will be assessed and conditioned in accordance with the Urban Utilities Metering Guidelines and SEQ Code.

From 1 July 2025, all Non-standard Water Approval Decision Notices will confirm the meter size/s to be used in construction.   

The approved meter size, noted in the Decision Notice, will be checked during site audits and at compliance technical review. Meter non conformances will be advised by a Field Audit report or an Information Request. If a change is required to the approved meter size post-DN, an amended Water Approval must be lodged, paid, and await the usual 20 business day assessment period. The same type of sizing justification per above must be provided if the meter size is not in conformance with the Metering Guidelines.

Why are we asking for meter information upfront? We are finding too many incorrectly sized meters at the compliance stage and in more and more developments, we are enforcing the correctly size meter be installed to ensure the flow of water through the meter is correctly and accurately monitored. Taking the proactive approach upfront removes the suspense of 'is the meter correctly sized?', and of course, saves time, money and stress at the end of the water approval process. Note that meters correctly sized from the beginning of the process, will also very likely be smaller in size and cost less than the oversized meters we are encountering, thus saving developers money and time. 

For more information, visit www.urbanutilities.com.au.

Article from Urban Utilities