Meters saving customers millions

Unitywater’s Digital Metering Program is to be expanded in Moreton Bay, Noosa and the Sunshine Coast after saving millions of dollars and litres of water.

The program has so far installed 10,000 water meters which have saved customers $3.8 million and 646 million litres in lost water.

Meters connect to a network that enables Unitywater to alert customers with unusually high water usage to check for leaks and repair them.

Unitywater Executive Manager Customer Delivery Rhett Duncan said the program had been so successful it was planning a further rollout to customers.

“Our Digital Metering Program has been a huge success for our customers impacted by leaks and we’re keen to expand to further suburbs,” Mr Duncan said.

“The technology is simple but effective, with huge benefits to our communities. That’s $3.8 million that would have otherwise been on customers’ bills.

“With our Digital Metering Program alone, 3900 customers have experienced water leaks, demonstrating how common leaks can be.

“Identifying leaks early is better for our customers’ bank balances and the environment.”

Hidden leaks

Digital water meters help identify hidden leaks as they record a water usage reading every 15 minutes and transmit data to Unitywater daily.

Unitywater can quickly notify customers where a hidden leak is suspected.

Heather Coey, from Maroochydore, was on holidays when Unitywater called to say her digital meter was recording continuous water usage on her property.

“We were very happy to get the call and glad we had a neighbour who could go straight over and check (our house),” she said.

“He realised immediately the downstairs toilet was left flushing.

Without a digital meter alerting her to the situation, the constantly flushing toilet would have cost Heather an extra $54 a day on her next water bill.

For more information about the program, visit www.unitywater.com/digital-meters