Water metering expos planned for Central Otago

Otago water users will have opportunities next week to become more familiar with the rules around water measuring, and see the latest metering technology.

The Otago Regional Council (ORC) is holding expos in Cromwell and Ranfurly, where suppliers and contractors from throughout NZ will be on hand to exhibit their equipment and answer questions.
ORC operations planning co-ordinator Sarah Ibbotson said council staff would also be on hand to discuss consent conditions relating to water metering, and the technical aspects of data management and verification.

Under the Government’s National Environmental Standard (NES) for water measurement, there is a three-tiered time frame for the installation of water measuring devices:
· takes of more than 20 litres per second (l/s) must be in place by 10 November 2012

· takes of 10 l/s up to 20 l/s must be in place by 10 November 2014

· takes of 5 l/s up to 10 l/s must be in place by 10 November 2016

Ms Ibbotson said it was important that people did not leave it until the deadline to install their meters, as a last-minute rush could cause supply and installation problems.

She said the expos created offered a timely opportunity for groups of landowners to band together to negotiate the purchase of metering devices which best suited their properties.

The expos will be held at the Cromwell Presbyterian Church, Elspeth Street, on Wednesday 3 August and the Maniototo Park Stadium, Ranfurly on Thursday 4 August. Both events run from 1pm to 5pm.