Pilbara meter replacement program
Project goal:
To replace residential and light commercial meters across the Pilbara
Status:
In planning
Delivery Date:
July 2025 - June 2026
What’s happening?
Many of the water meters in the Pilbara have come to the end of their life and are due for replacement.
To ensure that we continue to receive accurate meter readings and provide you with a reliable water supply, we'll be replacing meters across the Pilbara
Which areas will have their meter replaced?
We'll be replacing water meters at all homes and some businesses in the following areas.
| Location | Installation dates |
| Karratha | July - October 2025 |
| Port Hedland (including South Hedland and Wedgefield) | Early 2026 - mid 2026 |
| Wickham | Late 2025 |
| Roebourne | Late 2025 |
| Onslow | Late 2025 - early 2026 |
| Point Samson | Late 2025 |
We will notify you two weeks before we start installations in your area. If you have a mobile number registered on your account, we'll send you an SMS the week before we replace your meter.
Why is this taking place?
Water meters have a limited operational life. As time goes on, they slow down and may under-record your water use.
Getting accurate water meter readings ensure that all customers are charged correctly for their water use.
This data will also help us understand the current water demand in Pilbara, so we can plan for the future.
How will this impact the community?
We aim to minimise disruption wherever possible. You can expect to hear from us before your meter is upgraded so you can prepare. Update your details or register for an online account to ensure you don't miss important information from us about your meter upgrade.
You can also help us by ensuring your meter is clear and accessible before upgrades begin. Read the FAQs for more information on what to expect during the rollout of upgrades.
What if you're unable to access my meter?
Sometimes, we're unable to complete an upgrade if we can't safely access your meter. This is often due to an unrestrained dog on the property, the meter being located behind a locked gate or other obstructions such as landscaping or paving.
If we're unable to upgrade your meter, we'll leave a card letting you know the reason why.
We'll be in touch via email & SMS before we install your new meter.
If your meter is clear and accessible, we'll replace it when we are in your area. Learn more about what a clear and accessible meter looks like.
If we're unable to access your meter for any reason, we'll leave a card in your letter box explaining why. We'll contact you to schedule a suitable date and time.
Please note that we can't enter the property if your dog is not clearly secured away from the meter area. This means that they need to be in a separate fenced area or inside your home.
If your meter is behind a locked gate, please ensure the gate is left unlocked when we come to do your replacement.
There are a number of reasons why you may notice an increase in water usage charges following the installation of your new smart water meter.
1. Meter can deteriorate over time.
The accuracy of meters can deteriorate overtime. A slight variance in your bill may be due to a more accurate reading.
2. Your water use may have been estimated.
Your meter may have also been located behind a locked gate or in a yard with a dog, which makes it difficult for our meter readers to access it safely.
When this happens, we may have asked you to provide a self-read or we estimate your water use. This estimation is based on water use from the same period in the previous year. An estimated water read may be lower than your actual water use.
3. You may have moved into a higher pricing tier.
For some people, increased water use charges may be explained by having moved to a higher pricing tier.
The tiered pricing system is in place across WA and is designed to encourage the careful use of water.
Your water use charges are also calculated based on the cost of supplying water to your location, which varied across the state. Learn more about your water use charges.
4. You may have a leak.
Sometimes, higher than expected water use can be due to a leak that has gone unnoticed.
You can check for leaks by simply looking at the screen of your new smart water meter.
Turn off all water-using appliances in your home (including evaporative air conditioners), wait a few minutes and check to see if the small number showing litres per hour has returned to 0l p/h. If the number is greater than 0l p/h, this indicates you may have a leak.
Please get in touch with us on 13 13 85 if you want to talk to someone about your bill.
If your old meter was faulty, then you may have been receiving higher pressure than usual.
As the new meters have been tested and approved to deliver the standard water pressure, you may experience a minor drop in pressure.
We aim to provide 20 litres of water per minute at your water meter. The pressure and flow that you experience from your taps are dependent on lots of factors, like the elevation of your property and your internal plumbing.
If you have noticed your water pressure has changed, complete this simple test to check the water flow you are getting at your tap.
We will need to turn the water off at your property for 10-15 minutes during the installation.
If your water is turned off, you may notice a loud bang and your water bubbling as it comes out of the tap when it's turned back on.
This is due to the air entering your water pipe during the installation. It should only take a moment for the air to clear and your water supply to return to normal. You can learn more about what to expect when your water is back on.
Your new meter will look very similar to your existing meter. The meter will read your water usage and there will be a cyble attached which will be able to give your the data of your water usage.
To identify the type of smart meter you have and how to read it, visit our how to read your meter page for further information.
Community Engagement