@pmo said:
Based on my research electronic meters (such as one of those I mentioned) work by sensing a magnetic pulse every time the internal impeller rotates. Assuming that they do actually sense the pulse then they will be as accurate as a mechanical meter.
True, but they are also a lot more expensive than the old-fashioned analogue in-line meter that measures the actual physical flow of water — $120-150 for the latter compared to $990+ for the electronic ones, according to this website. AND you have the cost and hassle of installation.
Clamp-on meters are a lot easier to install but they cost about $4500 which would pretty much rule them out except for the purposes of, say, testing water flows to different buildings in the one complex.
And don’t forget that for some buildings you’d be measuring both hot and cold water flow since many have a shared water heating system. The cost may be prohibitive.
That just leaves the radio transmission of the stored data, which these days is virtually foolproof, with various types of error detection and correction.
The Sydney Water spokesman I heard speak was less convinced about the reliability of these meters but the technology is improving all the time so that shouldn’t be an issue.
Note that installation of the meters need not be optional. The incoming water pipe and tap is common property. The OC is completely within its rights to mandate the installation of such a meter by way of a Special Resolution, under Sect. 65A of the Act.
Obviously, if the vast majority of owners (75% of those voting on the necessary by-laws) are in favour of fixing individual meters then opting in or out isn’t an issue. But when you look at the numbers for whom there is no clear benefit from this expenditure – eg, landlords, large families and heavy water users generally – it might be tough to get such a radical change approved. I could be wrong but you might be able to persuade enough people to allow modest amounts to be spent – and the by-laws to be amended accordingly – to permit an opt-in scheme. But imposing the shared cost of installation PLUS the prospect of realistic charges for their share of water might be too big a leap for the water wasters to take.
The only possible problem would be that an owner could remove the meter and install a tap for part of the year. In the case of radio meters it would be easy to detect via regular checks, which would reveal that the reading had not changed over a period of time. They may also have built-in tamper detection.
Agreed. That’s why accessible external meters should be included at the planning stage – and local councils, if they are serious about this, should be insisting on it as part of DAs. I am told on good authority that one Sydney apartment block developer recently put up a proposal to have one water meter, one gas meter and one electricity meter for the whole building, to save the expense of individual meters for each apartment.