Digital water meter
Digital Water Meters are coming!
Armidale Regional Council is set to roll out digital water meters, to the community. This new system will allow residents to access their water consumption information, helping to identify potential leaks and high water consumption activities, reduce water waste, and ultimately save money on your water bills.
Sign up to ARC Water-stay informed, save water
Take control of your water usage with ARC Water’s new Customer Portal. By signing up, you’ll receive real-time alerts about leaks, track your hourly water consumption, and avoid unexpected high bills. It’s free, easy, and part of Armidale Regional Council’s commitment to smarter, more sustainable water management.
Why sign up?
- Get notified early about leaks on your property
- Monitor your water use anytime, anywhere
- Help reduce water waste and support regional sustainability
Signing up means peace of mind—and a step toward a more water-wise community.
*Disclaimer: It may take up to 7 days for council to process the property registration.
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What are digital water meters?
DWMs collect hourly water consumption data which provides valuable information for improved water management for residents, businesses and council. They measure water flow accurately and provide fair and equitable billing as errors such as broken or tampered with meters are highlighted by the system. The data will be accessible via a Customer Portal allowing residents to view their consumption data, set leak and high use alerts and receive monthly reports.
Why is this important?
The installation of DWMs will significantly improve the way water is managed in the area. These meters offer a range of benefits, including:
- Water use-monitoring: Residents will have access to their water consumption data, allowing them to make informed decisions about how they are using water and avoid unexpected high water bills.
- Early leak detection: The advanced technology can quickly detect leaks, helping to prevent water loss and possible infrastructure damage, reducing the financial burden on residents.
- Increased efficiency: With the elimination of manual meter readings, staff resources can be freed up for other tasks, improving overall efficiency.
No additional cost to residents
One of the best parts about this rollout is that there will be no cost to residents for the installation of the new meters. The existing meters have now come to their end of life and are due to be replaced. Council has chosen to update them with the latest water metering technology and they are being funded by the Water Fund Reserve. All properties within Armidale Regional Council, starting with Guyra will have their old meters replaced with the new DWMs, giving residents the benefits of a better system without any additional charges.
What’s next?
The installation of these advanced meters will be completed in stages and expected to take place over the next 18 months. Residents will receive more information about the process, including installation timelines and how to access the Customer Portal to monitor their water usage.
Guyra digital water meter roll out (Please note that the installation schedule may change from time to time due to weather and unforeseen events—check this page regularly for updates.)
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Water meter area audit
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Late March
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Cleaning of meter box
-Including test installation of DWM
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14 April 2025 (weather permitting)
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Installation of DWM (pre-testing stage)
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April 2025
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Letter to residents about digital water meter roll out
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June 2025
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Meter installations by taggle subcontractors to begin in Guyra
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Paused due to legacy issues
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Guyra area digital water meter roll out
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Guyra roll out list 1(PDF, 99KB)
Guyra-roll-out-list-2(PDF, 92KB)
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Armidale digital water meter roll out (Please note that the installation schedule may change from time to time due to weather and unforeseen events—check this page regularly for updates.)
FAQs about digital water meters installation
1. How long will the meter change take, will my water be turned off?
Meter changes will generally take 15-30 minutes, and water will be turned off during this time. Meter changes will be scheduled during working hours where possible to reduce the impact on household. ARC and its contractors are making every effort to minimise disruption.
2. How will I know when the installation is scheduled to take place?
The installers will knock on every door before starting work and are happy to reschedule if required.
3. Can you opt out from the installation of digital water meter?
No, this is a general infrastructure upgrade. The water meter is owned by Armidale Regional Council . Council do not require permission to enter the property to change the meter once notice is given but would always prefer to work collaboratively with homeowners and residents.
4. What is the purpose of this project?
The goal of this project is to install digital water meters in Guyra followed by Armidale. This project will help reduce water loss, improve leak detection, and allow residents to monitor their own water usage in real time. It is a part of the broader effort to enhance water management and sustainability.
5. What are the key benefits of the digital water meters?
- Leak detection: The meters can detect water leaks quickly, preventing unnecessary water wastage and saving residents money.
- Efficient water usage: The meters provide detailed data that allows residents to monitor and manage their water consumption more effectively.
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Improved Customer Service: With access to hourly water consumption data council can now assist with water bill enquiries and quickly assist residents in identifying water waste helping to lowering water bills.
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Safety and productivity: The need for manual meter readings will be eliminated, reducing risks to staff from dogs and wildlife and while increasing overall productivity of the water team.
6. What is the timeline for the rollout of the meters?
The project will be completed over two financial years (2024-25 and 2025-2026), with the full network being upgraded within an 18-month period.
7. How will the project be funded?
The project is being funded by the water Fund Reserve. There will be no cost to residents to have DWMs installed.
8. What happens if there are water leaks detected?
Residents who sign up to the Customer Portal will receive automatic alerts from the system. For those who aren’t signed up to the Portal, Council will endeavour to notify residents however this is not guaranteed as there can be hundreds of leaks across the network at any given time so larger leaks will be given priority. Once you have been notified you will need to contact a plumber to identify and fix the leak on your property. Any leaks after the meter are the responsibility of the resident.
9. What is the impact of this project on the community?
Residents will benefit from the ability to monitor and manage their own water usage more effectively, preventing unexpected high bills due to leaks or excessive consumption. The project will also contribute to the overall sustainability of water resources within the region.
10. How will this project contribute to sustainability?
The installation of digital water meters aligns with the region's sustainability goals by reducing water waste, lowering energy costs, and water treatment costs. The project also supports the "Brilliant Regions Strategy" by enhancing resource management and reducing operational risks.
11. How will the installation affect water bills?
The long-term financial impact should result in savings for residents. Water bills may initially go up for some residents as the current meter could be faulty and/or under-reading due to old age. Installing the new meters ensures everyone is paying the correct and fair amount, this would have happened whether they were new digital or mechanical meters. We encourage everyone to sign up to the Customer Portal and/or App once it is launched to ensure you don’t have a leak and to see if you have any high water use activities which can be avoided reducing your water bill.
12. What is the role of Telstra and Taggle in the project?
Telstra provides the communication network for the ultrasonic digital meters through its NB-IoT (Narrowband Internet of Things) platform. Taggle is a strategic partner that will facilitate the installation and management of the digital water meters, ensuring that the system operates efficiently and is integrated with the Council's water management infrastructure.
13. How will the Council manage the project?
The Council will work closely with Telstra and Taggle Systems to ensure smooth implementation, with ongoing communication to residents about the installation process and benefits.
14. What happens if a resident's meter fails or has issues?
In the event of a malfunction or issue with a meter, residents can report the problem to the Council for investigation and prompt resolution. As the meters are part of an integrated system, support will be readily available to ensure they function correctly.
15. How can residents stay informed about the project?
Residents can stay informed about this project by visiting the Council website, reading letters sent to residents, as well as through flyers, newsletters, and newspapers.
16. How strong is the radio signal?
The radio signal transmitted by the digital meter is very small – it is about 30 times weaker than the signal transmitted by your mobile phone and does not pose any health risks.
The combination of the relatively low power of the digital meter transmitters, their location on the outside of buildings and the very short time spent transmitting means that the overall RF EME exposure from digital meters is very low and well below the limits of the ARPANSA RF Standard, even when a large number of devices are communicating simultaneously close together. Read more at the link below.
https://www.arpansa.gov.au/understanding-radiation/radiation-sources/more-radiation-sources/smart-meters
17. How does the device get power?
The digital meter device is powered by a battery. All the power used by the device comes from the battery and is expected to last up to 15 years.
18. Can the water be turned off or restricted remotely?
No, the meters supplied do not have the ability to remotely shut off or restrict your water supply. This practice is not done by any digital water meter in Australia as it is against Australian law, this function is only used overseas.
19. Are the RF EME emissions from smart meters regulated in Australia?
The RF EME emissions from smart meters and other wireless devices used for communication are regulated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The ACMA’s regulatory arrangements require wireless devices to comply with the exposure limits in the ARPANSA RF Standard. The ARPANSA Standard is designed to protect people of all ages and health status against all known adverse health effects from exposure to RF EME. The ARPANSA Standard is based on scientific research that shows the levels at which harmful effects occur and it sets limits, based on international guidelines, well below these harmful levels.
State and territory governments are directly responsible for the planning and regulation of electricity supply infrastructure such as smart meters.
20. How much RF EME are people exposed to from smart meters?
The combination of the relatively low power of the smart meter transmitters, their location on the outside of buildings and the very short time spent transmitting means that the overall RF EME exposure from smart meters is very low and well below the limits of the ARPANSA RF Standard, even when a number of devices are communicating simultaneously.
21. Do smart meters cause any health effects?
Health authorities around the world, including ARPANSA and the World Health Organization (WHO), have examined the scientific evidence regarding possible health effects from smart meters. Current research indicates that there are no established health effects from the low exposure to the RF EME from smart meters.
There is no established scientific evidence that the low level RF EME exposure from smart meters causes any health effects including symptoms of ill health communicated by some people.
More information:
Understanding-Radio-Transmission.pdf(PDF, 245KB)