Do I need a water meter?
If your farm or orchard holds a resource consent for taking groundwater or surface water, installing a water meter with telemetry is likely to be required to monitor water usage for compliance. An amendment to the Resource Management (Measuring and Reporting of Water Takes) Regulations in September 2020 mandates the installation of water meters by specific deadlines based on varying rates of extraction, as per below:
- 03 September 2022 for consented takes ≥ 20 litres/second
- 03 September 2024 for consented takes between 10 and 20 litres/second
- 03 September 2026 for consented takes between 5 and 10 litres/second
A resource consent with a rate of take less that 5l/s does not need a water meter under the regulations, however a water meter will likely be required so that the take can be monitored.
Verification of water meters
You may also be required to verify your water meter at specified periods throughout the term of the consent. This ensures that it is providing reliable data, confirms that it is properly calibrated, and that the water use records are accurate. The verification process compares your meter to a calibrated reference meter over a set period. Your meter needs to be within +/- 5% of the reference meter to meet the accuracy standard.
How do I get my water meter verified?
Water meter verification is a relatively easy process and is carried out by a Blue Tick accredited service provider. Irrigation NZ provide details on their website of accredited providers. From here, select the type of service you want (Water Meter Verification) and your region. Contact one of the service providers from the list and organise for them to undertake the verification. You will need to send the results of the verification to the council or the provider may do this on your behalf.
Jessica Hunter – Environmental Consultant