How to read your water meter

There are a number of different brands of water meter in use throughout the Burdekin Shire, however, you are able to read them all in the same way. The display panel on your water meter has both black and white figures. The black on white figures represent your consumption in kilolitres. When reading your consumption for billing purposes, Council only reads the black figures:-

The white on red figures measure parts of kilolitres. They are useful to assess the amount of water used over a short period of time, for example, if you are checking for water leaks or when testing the meter.

The white on red digits show your consumption in litres or thousandths of kilolitres, e.g. in this case 3746.285kl or 3,746,285 litres.

Note: All metric water meters show kilolitres in black on white and parts of kilolitres in white on red.

If your water meter is of a type that you cannot understand please contact us for assistance. Council water meters are read twice per year for water billing purposes.

How to read a smart meter

The new smart digital meter allows Council to read your meter remotely without entering your property. Please ensure no metal items or covers are placed over these meters as it may impede the signal.

The display panel on your meter has a blue cover to protect the screen. Flip cover to the side to read the digital display. The first six figures represent kilolitres or thousands of litres.

The small figures after the comma are parts of kilolitres. They are useful to assess the amount of water used over a short period of time; for example, if you are checking for leakage overnight.

When your meter is being read, it will upload the whole range of figures e.g. in this case 26.170 kilolitres. Please note 1 m³ is equal to 1 kilolitre.

The new water meter numbers are found at the bottom of the dial.

If your water meter is of a type that you cannot understand, please contact Council for assistance on (07) 4783 9800. Council water meters are read twice per year and may be checked at random.

What to do with leaks

If the leak is within your property boundary it is your responsibility and you should contact a licensed plumber. If however, the leak is outside your meter, in a footpath or roadway, it is the Council’s responsibility to repair.

Residents can report water leaks by contacting Council on (07) 4783 9800 – 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This service does not include faults associated with water and wastewater plumbing within your property.

Overnight Leakage Test

If you read your water meter last thing at night and then first thing in the morning you can calculate how much water is being lost through leakage. Remember not to use any water during the night.

Subtract the previous night's reading from the morning reading.

3746.310 – 3746.215 = 0.095kl or 95 litres.

This gives the volume of water ‘lost’ overnight.

If you lose more than one (1) litre per hour, you should check for dripping taps, faulty toilet cisterns or other forms of leakage. Any more than 10 litres lost per hour is very significant and should definitely be investigated. Remember you are charged for every drop of water used.

Businesses can do the same thing over the weekend if no one is using the premises.