Your water meter registers all the water used at your property. Every property has its own individual water meter. In duplexes, group or strata-titled properties, there may only be one meter servicing some or all dwellings.
We read your meter four times a year. Please ensure your water meter is always accessible to our meter readers and is clear of objects, earth and insects. If your meter can't be read, then your water usage will be estimated.
Your water and sewerage rate notice displays the water you use as water consumption. Use our online My water dates tool to find out when your meter is due to be read and when you can expect your water bill.
Water meters are usually located towards the front of your property, close to either the left or right boundary. Most meters are at ground level covered by a lid marked ‘Water Meter’.
If you are unable to find your water meter, contact us on 07 5667 5801 or 1300 000 928, or email mail@goldcoast.qld.gov.au.
If you are building a property visit Water and sewerage connections.
There are many different water meters in use, but with each model the black numbers register kilolitres (kL) (these are used for billing) and the red numbers register litres.
This video shows how to read your meter.
- Record the numbers from your water meter.
- At the same time a day later, record your water meter reading.
- Subtract the first reading from the second reading.
- This is your household's daily water usage.
Visit My Water for water saving tips.
If you've received a letter advising that your usage is higher than normal, a higher than usual bill or you've noticed damp or wet patches in or around your property, you may have an internal leak.
We recommend you:
- rule out all possible causes for higher than usual water consumption, such as visitors, extra garden watering, filling up a pool or known leaks in fixtures or fittings
- conduct a meter test.
To conduct a meter test, turn off all taps and water-using appliances on your property, then check the water meter for signs of movement. If the dials on the meter are moving, there could be a leak.
If there is no movement at the meter, take a reading and do not use any water, including flushing the toilet, for at least 30 minutes, and then take another reading. If the meter reading has increased, there is a leak and you should contact a licensed plumber. Find out more about potential water leaks.
Learn how to locate your meter and checks for leaks in the About your water meter fact sheet(PDF, 382KB)
Water meters are routinely replaced when they have been identified as having reached the end of their life cycle.
We have a water meter replacement program to ensure reliable and accurate billing.
You will receive a notice in your letterbox when your water meter is going to be replaced. As water meters are usually located near the front fence of your property in the grass or footpath, you don't need to be home when the meter replacement occurs.
If you would like a water meter on your property moved onto the front verge / nature strip, call 1300 000 928 or 07 5667 5801.
If you would like your water meter relocated to left or right of its current position, you will need to apply for standard connection approval. You will then need to engage a suitably qualified contractor to move the water connection line, water meter and meter box in accordance with the approval.
If you think your water meter may not be accurate, use one of the options below to request us to conduct an accuracy test.
Water meter accuracy test guidelines
Read the guidelines below to find out what happens after you submit an application for a water meter accuracy test.
Organise the meter accuracy test
We will organise the meter to be removed from the property and be sent to an independent laboratory for a certified test. The water meter is tested by National Association of Testing Australia (NATA) in Melbourne, Victoria.
The removed meter is tested within a maximum period of 2 months after being removed.
We will advise the applicant of the following:
- that they or a nominee may be present during the test at the laboratory in Melbourne, Victoria.
- when and where the test is to be carried out.
- we will then confirm the time and location so that you can make the necessary travel arrangements (at your own cost).
We will make an appointment with the applicant by phone or email. This gives the applicant the opportunity to witness the removal of the water meter.
Remove the existing water meter for testing
Upon arrival at the property, the meter serial number is matched with the one in the application.
If there is any sign of a leak, this is investigated prior to the meter being removed. The meter cannot be removed until the leak has been fixed.
The nearest water tap is turned on to make sure that the meter is still working.
The meter is disconnected, and a new meter installed. The old and new meters serial numbers are recorded at the same time.
The disconnected meter is filled with water and sealed with 2 caps to prevent meter mechanism from drying out. The meter is tagged with details that identify it. The tagged information includes:
- Rate account number
- Meter serial number
- Meter size
- Meter reading
- Date of removal
- Name of the person who has disconnected the meter
- Name of company he/she belongs to (if not a City employee)
- Remarks (e.g. flooded meter pit, signs of tampering, unmatched serial number, etc.)
The meter is delivered as near as practicable to the condition the meter existed when it was installed in service. Transportation is carried out in a careful manner. Undue movement is avoided.
The removed meter is stripped and destroyed in the process of testing and cannot be restored at the property.
Assess and action the meter accuracy test results
Where the water meter is registering either correctly or in the favour of the applicant (under-recording), no refund or amendment will be made to the water account.
Should the test results prove that a meter is registering incorrectly, we will organise a refund of the prescribed fee to the applicant where the water meter is registering greater than 5% in favour of the Council (i.e. meter is running “fast”).
Provide meter accuracy test results to the applicant
We will provide the applicant with:
- a written notice (report) of the results of the accuracy test as soon as practicable after receiving the test results from the laboratory, and
- details of any adjustments and/or refunds that they may receive.
The customer is requested to review the report and proposed adjustments to the account and provide a reply within 10 business days. The account remains on hold during this time.
Adjusting the water account
The relevant quarters are adjusted with an estimate and the account re-issued back to the start of the quarter that the first adjustment is made.