Water meters
About water meters
Water meters provide information on how much water we’re using in our households, businesses and organisations and help inform decisions about water management.
There are two main types of water meters. Traditional analogue water meters are mechanical devices that record water at the point of use. They need to be read manually.
Smart meters record water use in the same way but are connected to wireless communication devices providing current water use data. They can be read remotely via apps and software.
Smart meters are one of the most effective ways to not only help detect leaks but help us all better understand and manage our water consumption. Detecting leaks early also avoids damaging and disruptive pipe bursts.
Exploring the use of smart meters
In 2024, Wellington Water completed a smart meter technical fesability study on behalf of Greater Wellington Regional Council. The purpose of this study was to investigate how meters could help with improving our overall management of the wider network.
Aside from a small number of properties, the majority of residential properties in the metropolitan Wellington region are unmetered.
Wellington Water is owned and funded by the councils in the Wellington region. Our councils own the water infrastructure in the region and set user charges and rates. They then task us to deliver water services to their communities.
The decision to install residential meters is also one that sits with our councils. More than 60% of New Zealand is already metered, including Auckland, Tauranga, and Christchurch. Cities in New Zealand with water meters report significant reductions in water loss and residential usage.
Council position on water meters
All the Wellington metropolitan councils have responded to the need for water conservation and the increasing risk of future water shortages and restrictions, by including work to implement residential water meters in their 2024-34 Long-Term Plans.
We also have agreement on a joint working model with council officers and mana whenua partners to enable an integrated regional approach to the programme. Wellington Water is now progressing a business case on behalf of councils to understand the benefits and further explore the feasibility of implementing smart meters across the region.
Water meter archive
- Final Report - Greytown Smart Water Meter Trial - August 2023
- Wellington Water Presentation to the Regional Water Shortages Summit -September 2023
- Smart meters Q&A Regional Water Shortages Summit - September 2023
- Universal Smart Water Metering - Information for Hutt City Councillors - December 2023
- Supporting information and summary for the economic case for providing residential water consumption information - November 2020
- Economic case for providing residential water consumption information - November 2020
FAQs
If you install a water meter, will I have to pay for water?
The supply and delivery of water to your property is currently paid for through your rates bill. Wellington Water is currently investigating smart metering as a way of collecting information . Changing the way water is paid for would be a separate discussion.
What kind of data does a smart meter record? Would it contain personal data?
No personal information, such as names or property addresses, would be collected. The data would include only the meter serial number, time stamp and meter reading. Any additional data that Wellington Water receives will be subject to the Privacy Act 2020 and New Zealand data security requirements.
Would I get access to the data from a smart water meter on my property?
The data is displayed on the face of the smart water meter, so you would be able to see the readings.
How is data transmitted from a smart meter?
Smart-meter data is transmitted as an encrypted radio signal. The energy emitted from modern smart water meters is just a tiny fraction of the energy from a normal mobile phone or a digital electricity meter. Smart water meters have been in place in many locations around the world for some years now, and there are no known health issues associated with their use. And smart electricity meters, which use the same kind of technology, have been attached to Kiwi homes for several years now without issue.
Where would a meter be located?
In most cases, smart water meters would be installed at the current point of supply, commonly known as the water toby, in a plastic box under the ground.
Who would own and maintain the meter?
The council will own the meter. Wellington Water will be responsible for maintenance and replacement of the meter.
Would Wellington Water be able to tell if customers have a leak on their property?
Data from the smart meters would enable Wellington Water to alert customers to possible leaks. Please note, it would be the property owner’s responsibility to repair any leaks on their property.
Would householders be charged directly for the installation of smart meters?
No.
Are smart water meters the same as the electricity meters?
Although both meters measure how much customers use, a smart water meter is different from smart electricity meters. Smart water meters would not be installed inside a building, but customers would still be able to read their real-time water usage on the meter and/or via an app. A smart water meter can’t control or reduce how much water comes through the meter.
Why spend money on installing meters when you can fix all the leaks?
Installing smart water meters will help us find more leaks and more quickly. For example, smart meters can identify leaks on private property soon after they occur, avoiding potential damage to your property. This is a better use of resources as it means we do not have to send crews out to manually find them. A lot of the bigger leaks are not visible and underground, and smart meters will help us detect these types of leaks more effectively. It will also help councils assess water loss and demand and where to prioritise spending for future network upgrades or improvements. Leaks throughout the network are unavoidable, but we can manage this better through smart water meters which can tell us how much water is being lost and where.