Water metering standards

If you hold a water entitlement to take non-urban water you may need to take action to meet Queensland’s new metering standards. You will receive a notification 12 months in advance if you need to:

• Install a new meter (PDF, 876.9KB) to bring your water measurement up to the latest standards.
• Revalidate your existing meter (PDF, 1.1MB) to ensure its accuracy meets current requirements.

Non-urban water is water that is taken directly from surface water or groundwater and is not supplied by local government or other water service provider as part of a town water supply or other distribution scheme.

Take action

• Find your due dates for validating existing water meters or installing and validating new water meters.
• Only certified meter installers (CMIs) can inspect and validate meters. Find a CMI at www.irrigationaustralia.com.au.
• Submit your Meter Validation Certificate (MVC) by email to the North or South region metering team. Use the map to find which team is right for you or phone 13 QGOV (13 74 68).

When meters aren't required

You may not be required to install a meter in one or more of these circumstances:

• The water taken is for stock or domestic purposes.
• The volume stated on the entitlement is below a threshold requiring a meter as outlined in the water regulation, relevant water plan or meter notice.
• There is no take of water through the works or there are no works installed.
• The water taken is for prescribed activities under the Water Regulation 2016.
• The water taken is for another use approved by the department as an activity that does not require a meter.

If you meet these circumstances you must fill out an Information request form (W2F165) (PDF, 681.1KB)and return to the department using the North or South region metering contact details in the Contact us section.

New, modern water meters are:

• More accurate and provide reliable data on water use.
• Give everyone access to accurate water usage information.
• Nationally certified and meet the high standards set by the National Measurement Institute.

When you need to comply

Here are the due dates for new meter installs and meter validations. Open each listing to see which areas are included.