Western Downs Smart Metering
Chinchilla, Tara, Jandowae, Bell, Meandarra, Warra and Jimbour, Qld
Total funding: Total project cost of $810,000, with funding of $405,000 from the Australian Government under the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns and the remaining funding provided by Western Downs Regional Council.
About the project
This project involves the installation of smart meters to connections in the Western Downs Regional Council communities of Chinchilla, Tara, Jandowae, Bell, Meandarra, Warra and Jimbour. These communities are all rurally based and traditionally have had little exposure to water conservation initiatives. The smart meters will enable an effective water conservation program to be implemented through more regular readings and consumption analyses, individual notification of excessive users, promotion campaigns and new water pricing policies.
Project benefits
This project will:
- produce a potable water savings of approximately 150 million litres each year,
- promote water conservation in communities who have had little exposure to water conservation practices, and
- improve operational efficiencies through efficient meter reading and reduced loading on treatment plants.
Progress
The project commenced on 25 November 2010 and is scheduled for completion by 30 June 2012.
National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns projects are funded by the Australian Government's Water for the Future initiative.