Changes to the non-urban water metering rules
The NSW Government has made important updates to the non-urban metering rules in the Water Management (General) Regulation 2025.
The amendments incorporate key recommendations from the review of the non-urban metering framework, streamlining measurement requirements and adjusting compliance deadlines to speed up the metering rollout.
The new metering rules
The new metering rules require water users to assess their compliance requirements using their total entitlement and work size.
Large water users must comply with the highest metering standards whilst smaller water users now have less prescriptive metering requirements. Coastal water users have also been given an extension for compliance.
The following table outlines how the rules apply to you:
Works | Measurement requirements | Compliance date |
All surface water pumps ≥500mm |
| Must already be compliant. |
All works nominated by total entitlement ≥100ML, unless otherwise exempt* |
| Inland water users must already be compliant. Coastal water users need to comply by 1 December 2026** |
All works nominated by total entitlements of >15 and <100ML, unless otherwise exempt* |
| Need to comply by 1 December 2027 or by the work approval renewal, whichever is later |
Pumps and bores below the size-based thresholds Works nominated by total entitlement ≤15ML (unless a surface water pump ≥500mm) |
| Not applicable |
Works not taking licensed water (unintended, inactive) Works not nominated by licensed water entitlements |
| Not applicable |
*If there is only 1 bore or pump on the property: bores less than 200mm and surface water pumps less than 100mm are exempt.
**Work approval holders with a pre-existing metering condition MW2452-00001 should already have a meter complying with AS4747 in place.
Meters must be validated by a DQP 10 years after the initial install and then every 5 years.
If metering equipment doesn’t work after it’s installed, water users need to report this to WaterNSW using the online S91i form on the WaterNSW website.
For more information about your compliance date, visit the department's website.
Do you need to comply?
You may need to comply if you have:
- water supply works such as a pump, bore, well, or spear point, that
- can be fitted with a meter, and
- is licenced to take water from rivers and groundwater.
The rules are being rolled out in stages to allow people time to comply. However, if you install a new meter before your rollout date, that meter must comply with the new rules.
Check the rules and meter your supply
Download our metering fact sheet
To learn more about our compliance approach to metering.
Metering regulations - NRAR compliance approach (PDF 188.5Kb)
Our compliance approach
We are a risk-based regulator. We focus on critical areas to ensure our efforts have a high impact and reduce harm to our water sources. For the rollout of the metering rules, our areas of focus are:
- ensuring high-volume, active works are compliant
- educating water users about the rules and their obligations before their compliance deadlines
- monitoring and enforcing compliance amongst groups whose deadline has passed.
Learn more about our areas of focus and how we monitor and enforce metering rules.
Exemptions that may apply
We expect all water users to comply before their deadline.
A failure to comply with the metering rules may be a criminal offence.
We are a firm but fair regulator and will assess each situation on a case-by-case basis.
Exemptions that may apply include:
- Inactive works – People who don't use their pumps anymore but might want to later can apply to make them inactive on WaterNSW's website
- Unintended works - An unintended work is a work listed on a work approval that is not taking licensed water or water under a basic landholder right. This may be because the work has been decommissioned, is inactive, has not been constructed or is not taking from a water source. Water users will have a condition on their licence that prohibits them from using these types of works to take licensed water.
- Keeping an existing meter – A manufacturer certificate (up to 5 years old) is required to keep an existing meter that was installed before 1 April 2019 and isn’t on the approved list. Alternatively, a meter installer can field test each meter and verify its accuracy. In both cases, a meter installer is required to validate the installation and fit the meter with an intelligence device and tamper evident seals.
- Connectivity issues – if a meter installer can't set up a local smart device, water users can apply for an exemption. They need to notify the department using the correct form. The department's telemetry coverage tool may help you check your eligibility for an exemption.
How to find a meter installer
A certified meter installer can help you get into compliance. Visit Irrigation Australia to find one today.
If you have questions about:
- your works approval, conditions or to amend your approval — contact WaterNSW on 1300 662 077 or email Customer.Helpdesk@waternsw.com.au
- non-urban metering rules — contact the department on 1300 081 047 or water.enquiries@dcceew.nsw.gov.au