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Regularly checking your water meter will help
you be more aware about how much water your
household uses.
Things like leaky taps, overwatering your lawn, and
undetectable water leaks can be a big drain on your budget if
they are left for too long. You can take control over your water
use by making some simple changes around the home.
How am I charged for water?
Take control of
your water u
se
How can I use less water?
>> Repair dripping taps and leaking toilets. A dripping tap
can waste up to 12kL of water each year.
>> Water your garden in the morning or evening when it’s
cooler.
standard plan
>> Teach your kids about saving water.
water watchers
One wheel ie bin
contains 0.24kL
0.24kL = 240L
>> Use a commercial car wash that recycles water if you can,
otherwise wash it on the grass at home.
>> Use a broom on your driveway or paths instead of the
hose. You’ll save up to 75L every 5 minutes.
If you use more than the allocated amount, you will be charged
an excess water rate for every extra kilolitre you use.
1kL = 1,000L
>> Use a trigger hose to limit wastage when hosing.
You can choose between two plans for water billing:
Under the Standard Plan, you get 772kL per year for one flat
fee which is paid in two instalments included with your rates
notice.
How much water is
one kilolitre (kL)?
>> Clean gutters and downspouts manually instead
of hosing.
>> Report any big water losses such as broken pipes, open
hydrants, or faulty sprinkler systems to
the property owner, real estate agent or Council.
>> Make sure you know the current water restrictions by
checking council’s website.
With the Water Watchers Plan you pay a service connection
fee and then only pay for the water you use on a low rate per
kilolitre.
r uses
Using your spr ink ler for 1 hou
water
of
00L
1,0
or
approximately 1kL
which is a little more than 4 full
wheelie bins
Check council’s website for the current water billing rates.
Don’t drain your household budget. Find leaks fast!
Check Your
Meter Day
r
e
t
a
W
If you’ve noticed your water use is high and you’re not sure why, you might have
a leak that you don’t know about!
Try this simple check to detect a leak:
1. Turn off your taps, dishwasher, washing machine, sprinklers and anything
else that uses water.
2. Once everything’s switched off, take a water meter reading.
14th of every month
3. Wait 10 minutes and check the meter again
To find how go to >>
www.townsville.qld.gov.au
If you think you might have a leak, contact a plumber for a full inspection.
4. If the last number on the dial has turned, you may have a leak.
T he d ia l o
n you r wa
ter meter
is where y
ou w il l fi n
d how
much wate
r you have
u sed .
How do I read my water meter?
Water meters measure the amount of water used at your property. Council reads your
meter four times a year to work out how much you’ve been using and how much your
bill will be, depending on what water plan you’re on.
Your water meter is usually found at the front of your property. Remember, it’s your
responsibility to make sure that it’s easy to get to. Keep shrubs and grass well
maintained and make sure it’s not buried or covered in mulch.
How do I monitor my water use?
It’s easy to keep track of your water use at home. Just download a Water Use Chart and
fill in the details on the 14th of every month.
bers:
W hite num
e
a re th
kiloLit res
(kL) used
Red numb
e r s:
a re the litr
es
(L) used
Date
Meter reading
Kilolitres (Kl)
used this month
No. Days since
last reading
Average daily usage
Comments
What date are
you reading
your meter?
What’s the meter
reading? For example,
if your dial looks like
this…
What’s the difference
between this reading
and your last?
How many days has it
been since your last
reading?
The amount of kilolitres you
used this month divided by
the number of days since the
last meter reading:
Have there been any reasons why you
may have used more water than usual
this month?
Hints
kL used ÷ days since reading
15342906
What have you changed this month to
make your water use drop?
Record it like this…
15342.906
in
First read
g
14/08/15
4190
N/A
N/A
N/A
14/09/15
Nex t readings
4268
78
31
2.516
Starting out monthly
meter checks.
This is over 2,000L per
day. Should try cutting
back on watering the lawn
so much.