The issue of individual water meters in strata complexes is currently being investigated by a number of water authorities.
The intricacies of the physical installation and regular meter reading requirements can be quite complex for units. It’s generally a lot easier for townhouses and villas, and in many cases your water authority would be able to read the meters as they do for houses.
Individual water meters are also more attractive for investor owners after the most recent changes to the Residential Tenancies Act. The Residential Tenancies Act 2010 says:
39 Water usage charges payable by tenant
(1) A tenant must pay the water usage charges for the residential premises, but only if:
(a) the premises are separately metered or the premises are not connected to a water supply service and water is delivered to the premises by vehicle, and
(b) the premises contain water efficiency measures prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this section, and
(c) the charges do not exceed the amount payable by the landlord for water used by the tenant.
If I were you I’d call your water authority and get them to assess the suitability of your particular site.
And the Residential Tenancies Regulation 2010 stipulates:
11 Water efficiency measures required for payment of usage charges by tenants: s 39 (1) (b) of Act
The prescribed water efficiency measures that residential premises are required to contain before a tenant can be required to pay water usage charges for the premises are as follows:
(a) all showerheads on the premises must have a maximum flow rate of 9 litres per minute,
(b) all internal cold water taps and single mixer taps for kitchen sinks or bathroom hand basins on the premises must have a maximum flow rate of 9 litres per minute,
(c) there must be no leaking taps on the premises at the commencement of the residential tenancy agreement or when the water efficiency measures are installed, whichever is the later.
Note. Taps and showerheads having a maximum flow rate of 9 litres per minute have a 3 star water efficiency rating.
If I were you I wouldn’t give up yet, and contact your water authority and ask them to assess the suitability of your particular site.