STROUD Road residents are set to be a part of an innovative new approach to water management in the region, with MidCoast Council undertaking its first-ever trial of digital water meters in the community from July.

Digital water meters, or ‘smart meters’ as they’re more commonly known, provide instantaneous water consumption data and can help customers better understand their own water use.

Council’s Director of Infrastructure and Engineering Services, Rob Scott, said the Stroud Road trial would run for at least three months and would allow Council to assess the effectiveness of the technology.

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“We’ll be installing smart meters at all residential and commercial properties in Stroud Road and using the trial to evaluate current data analysis models, identify risks and barriers, and gauge community acceptance,” he said.

“This will give us the information we need to develop a business case together with a cost analysis to help us decide on the roll out of the technology across the region.

“It will also help us better understand how our customers use water and allow us to flag any leaks or abnormal usage with them directly.

“They’ll be able to find and repair leaks quickly, helping them avoid large bills and cut down on water wastage.”

Following the trial, the smart meters will remain in place and residents will be able to track their water use via a smartphone app and website login.

Mr Scott said this would give customers greater control over their water use and their home budgets.

“Having access to up-to-date data is going to allow our customers to understand how they’re using water, where potential savings can be made, and what to expect when they receive their quarterly bills so there are no nasty shocks.”

Smart meters were identified as an effective tool for reducing water use in Council’s most recent Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy, Our Water, Our Future.

It has been estimated that the use of a smart meter can reduce water consumption inside the home by up to five per cent.

To find out more about the Stroud Road smart meter trial, visit www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/smart-meter-trial.