Throughout 2021, we inspected 547 active pumps in the 2020 group. These are the pumps across NSW that are bigger than 500mm that needed to be fitted with accurate meters, independently certified and able to transmit water take to a central database by 1 December 2020
Sixty-nine per cent of those works are now compliant with the new rules. Importantly more than 80 per cent of the pumps we inspected in this group are now connected to accurate meters that have been independently certified. This is a significant increase from the rate of full compliance we observed in July (23%) and September (54%). It is important to note that our sample size has been subject to changes as more water works were inspected and found to be inactive or undersized.
Compliance results (2020 group)
Barwon, Darling and West
Border Rivers
Far North Coast
Gwydir
Lachlan
Macquarie Bogan
Murray
Murrumbidgee
Namoi
Our compliance approach
After conducting desktop assessments and completing site inspections, March through June, we issued advisory letters or legal directions to comply as well as fines. Those who had complied with the rules received letters of thanks.
As a result of our enforcement efforts, the compliance rate increased by 50 per cent between July and December.
We are a firm but fair regulator. We understand there can be challenges on the pathway to compliance and we have taken a light touch approach when reasonable efforts had been made.
However, for those who continue to ignore the rules, our response will become progressively severe, with stop work orders, licence suspensions or prosecutions being considered.
Although we will continue our work to bring this group closer to widespread compliance our focus is now on the next group of water users who were required to comply with the new metering rules by 1 December 2021.
Find out more about our 2021 compliance approach.