Meter replacements

All water meters eventually need to be replaced. They can become worn out, damaged, tricky to read, noisy, or reach the end of their operating life. Barwon Water will always contact you before replacing a meter on your property. All you usually need to is ensure clear access to the meter on the day.

How we replace meters

Barwon Water will notify you at least 7 days before a planned upgrade or replacement of your water meter.

It will take an installer approximately 15-45 minutes to change over a water meter . You do not need to do anything, there is no cost to replace your meter and there won’t be any changes to your water bill.  Depending on the age of your previous water meter you may notice a small variation in your usage. For more information visit How meters work.

You don't need to be there unless your meter is hard to access but you can help by removing any obstructions over or around the meter beforehand.

If you need a new meter, or would like to change to a radio read or digital meter, visit Application for water and sewer connection.

Our metering partners

Skilltech is Barwon Water’s trusted metering partner and has been providing metering services to Australian utilities since 1991. In addition to performing meter reads, their team are trained to replace and upgrade meters.

All metering team members will carry identification, identifying them as Barwon Water contractors or staff.

Ensure access to the meter

The water meter on your property should be accessible for reading or replacement at any time. Part of your obligations as a water user is to ensure we can access the meter safely. It is the property occupier’s responsibility to clear any dirt, shrubs or concrete from within 25mm of the inlet and outlet service pipes, and under the meter.

25mm all-round clearance is required where the service pipe is installed through a paved/ concrete surface, so we can replace the meter.

Different types of meters

Depending on the age of the water meter and where it was installed, the water meter on your property may look different to some other meters you see throughout our region. There are two main categories to be aware off, mechanical meters and digital meters.

Mechanical meters measure water with a small turbine that ticks over as the water runs through it. A digital meter uses a vibration sensor to record water use, water pressure and flow, making it possible for Barwon Water to find and fix leaks.

For more information, visit How meters work