Water metering
For effective planning, allocation and managment of water resources for urban, irrigation, commercial and environmental purposes, it is necessary to have a clear picture of water-use patterns.
While urban water use has been monitored for some time, metering in rural areas has been sporadic.
Queensland State Implementation Plan for Non-Urban Water Metering
The National Framework for Non-Urban Water Metering is to provide metering standards for non-urban water meters on a nationally consistent basis. The framework encompasses implementation priorities, meter standards and specifications, and the Metrological Assurance Framework.
The Metrological Assurance Framework has been developed to enable implementation of new standards for non-urban water meters and to accommodate future trade measurement requirements. The framework incorporates national measurement standards and best available practices to ensure adequate meter performance.
The Queensland State Implementation Plan for Non-Urban Water Metering (PDF, 406K)* supports the priorities outlined in the framework. The state implementation plan aims to:
- achieve the objectives of paragraphs 87, 88 and 89(i) of the National Water Initiative agreement
- ensure non-urban meters comply with requirements of the National Measurement Act 1960 (Cth), the National Measurement Regulations 1999 and Uniform Trade Measurement Legislation (UTML) administered by the states and territories
- ensure national standards for non-urban meters are implemented in accordance with the National Framework for Non-urban Water Metering Policy, including the processes, mechanisms and resources required by the Metrological Assurance Framework.
Metering water extractions policy
The Metering water extractions policy provides a framework for uniform, statewide metering of the water extracted from our rivers, lakes, streams and aquifers.
The policy has been split into smaller PDFs for easier downloading.
- Part A: foreword (PDF, 188K)*
- Part B: contents; policy chapters (PDF, 250K)*
- Part C: appendix (PDF, 176K)*
It is also available as a complete PDF (PDF, 337K)* to facilitate printing.
Benefits of water metering
Fair and equitable sharing
Metering provides the information needed to ensure water users comply with the conditions of their water entitlement. This encourages water users to take no more than their fair share, minimising the potential for disputes and concerns about other users exploiting the resource.
Enhanced reliability of access
Recorded metered usage provides water users with the certainty and security needed to purchase and use entitlements with confidence. Enhanced reliability of the water user’s access to water ensures investments in entitlements and infrastructure are not undermined by upstream extractions.
Monitoring water resource plans
Meters provide water use information that will help the department to monitor the effectiveness of water resource plans (WRPs) and their progress in meeting environmental flows and water allocation security objectives.
Improving efficiency
Metering water use encourages more efficient on-farm water management practices, allowing a better understanding of the amount of water used and encouraging measures that will improve water use efficiency.
More information
- Water metering fact sheet (PDF, 78K)*
* Requires Adobe Reader
Last reviewed 4 January 2011
Last updated 18 May 2009