Smart Meter Technical Feasibility Study
On behalf of Greater Wellington Regional Council, we are carrying out a study into using smart meters to improve water efficiency in the region.
If you have any questions about this work, please contact:
Wellington Water, 04 912 4400
Investigations into the drinking water network are currently underway in a range of sites around Wellington.
These will be carried out between 22 May and 30 June 2023.
The investigations involve digging some potholes to gather information about the existing infrastructure that will help inform future planning.
Why are we doing this?
Demand for water in the region is at an all-time high and continues to rise. To reduce the cost of upgrading and expanding our water supply, we’ve got a programme of work underway to reduce demand.
A big part of that is reducing leakage on the network and private properties – which account for up to 40% of water usage.
Smart meters are one of the most effective ways to not only help detect leaks but help us all better understand and manage our water consumption. Detecting leaks early also avoids damaging and disruptive bursts.
With smart meter data we could much more effectively identify, locate and fix leaks on our 2,534km long network of pipes - that’s equal to the distance from Wellington to Sydney.
About the study
This feasibility study, which started in July 2022 and runs for two years, covers the strategic case for meters, the economic case and a technical assessment.
The goal is to determine the best approach to smart metering across the region and this will be used to inform future investment decisions. There is no plan to include volumetric charging of water in this process.
Wellington Water is carrying out this study on behalf of Greater Wellington Regional Council. It covers Wellington City, Hutt City, Upper Hutt City and Porirua City.
Wairarapa already has analogue water meters and a smart meter trial on 250 properties in Greytown finished at the end of March 2023.