Water Usage
I reside in a Strata Scheme located at 492 The Esplanade, Warners Bay. There are 27
residential lots and 3 commercial lots.
Our Strata Scheme has one water meter.
Our strata scheme is serviced by a master meter ZX02128/50mm which registers the
entire consumption of the complex. Unfortunately the complex was not separately
metered and therefore each lot is not allocated its own water consumption metring
service.
We note that from date of registration in July 2004 the determination of consumption
of water usage was by unit entitlement. We do not have the option of a separate
metering and unfortunately the complex does not lend itself to separate metering
application requirements.
Since I reside in the Hunter Water Board area my water rates are dictated by IPART.
This includes the Water Usage which is calculated on unit entitlement.
I am of the opinion that one’s consumption of water usage should not be calculated on
unit entitlement which is unfair and inequitable as I am paying for water which I do
not use. In all fairest the water should be calculated by the HWC in equal shares since
our Strata Scheme cannot be separately metered in a way which the Hunter Water
Corporation can read such meters.
My water usage last time was $258.00 and rising. It is becoming unaffordable for me
to live in my apartment.
In a way our Strata Scheme is separately metered but only via wireless remote
transmitters which could be placed next to each cold water RMC Multi Jet Water
meter which is located under each lot owners sink in their apartments. An Automatic
Remote Meter Unit 32 (AMR 32) box would be located downstairs in our plant room
to collect data as to water consumption which each lot would use.
As you can see from the attachments a reed switch is inserted in the slot of the glass
face on the meter under our sinks. This reed switch and transmitter send pulse data to
the AMR box downstairs. Hence one can read from this box the amounts of water
consumed by each lot owner.
I have been in contact with Building Management Systems in Queensland who install
this type system have indicated that Hunter Water Corporation is not as yet in a
position to read such meters.
Apparently Sydney Water is using this system to read meters in apartments from 1
November 2012. The State of Queensland has been using this system for the last 10
years.
In summary our meters can be read separately BUT HWC cannot read such meters as
they have not yet put in place the technology as Sydney Water of Queensland.
If our apartment block in respect to consumption of water can be separately metered
wireless as other utilities such as gas and electricity are reading such meters then it is
inequitable and unfair for each apartment’s consumption of water to be calculated as
per unit entitlement.
The fairest way and the next best way being the closest method to separate metering
recognised by HWC of calculating the consumption of water by each unit
owner until Hunter Water Corporation is in a position to read such meters is by all 30
lot owners to equally share the water usage.
I would like the Strata laws to be reviewed when it comes to water consumption in
complexes which have one meter only. The rule of thumb should be everyone in the
complex pays equal water and NOT on unit entitlement.
I would also like the State Government to insist that the Water Authority such as
HWC set itself up to read the Multi jet meters wirelessly. In that way all owners
would be paying for their own water the same as each owner pays for their own gas
and electricity.
Pets
The Strata Laws should be reviewed in relation to pets. An owner should have the
right to have a companion pet such as a cat or small dog. A pet gives an owner who
lives by herself companionship. A pet also psychologically reduces ones stress and
anxiety.
It should not be up to the majority of the Owners Corporation who many vote on a
personal basis prevents one from having a pet. It should be the owners right to have a
pet so long as that pet does not affect the use and enjoyment of other owners use and
enjoyment of their lot and common property.
The way the Strata Act is designed an owner feels that they are living in a prison.
Special Bylaws
For a special Bylaw to be passed if more than 25% vote against it you have lost the
Motion. Many times owners vote on personal basis and it does not take many votes
against for one to lose the Motion.
I believe in all fairness the vote against such a Resolution should be increased to 45%.
That is you should have to get 56% of the vote NOT 75% of the vote. You would find
that with special use bylaws very few applications would then be lodged in the
Tribunal.
Pamela Young
How To Read Your Cold Water Meter
Leak Detection:
Turn off all taps in property,
any movement of this dial
indicates a leak has been
detected
Measures kilolitres
(1000 litres); used to
calculate usage by
water authority
Measures
every 100 litres
Measures
every 100mls
Measures
every 10 litres
Measures
every 1 litre
Reliance Endurance
Multijet Water Meter
Supports remote reading
via optional reed switch kit
Measures
every 100mls
Measures
every 100 litres
Measures kilolitres (1000 litres);
used to calculate usage by
water authority
Measures
every 1 litre
Measures
every 10 litres
Reliance Positive Displacement
Water Meter
Reliance WorldwideŖ%JCROCP2NCEG'CING(CTO3.&
Website:JVVRYYYTGNKCPEGYQTNFYKFGEQOCWŖEmail:KPHQ"TGNKCPEGYQTNFYKFGEQOCW
How
w To Read Your Hot Water Meter
Reliance Hot Water
Meter
Measures kilolitres (1000 litres);
used to calculate usage by
water authority
Leak Detection:
Turn off all taps in
property, any movement
of this dial indicates a
leak has been detected
Measures
every 100 litres
Supports remote
reading via optional
reed switch kit
Measures
every 100mls
Measures
every 10 litres
Measures
every 1 litre
Reliance WorldwideŖ%JCROCP2NCEG'CING(CTO3.&
Website:JVVRYYYTGNKCPEGYQTNFYKFGEQOCWŖEmail:KPHQ"TGNKCPEGYQTNFYKFGEQOCW