Groundwater is a vital resource in NSW. It provides water for towns, industry, irrigation, stock, and domestic use. Groundwater also supports dependent ecosystems.
To better manage this invisible water source, we must know how much is used across the state. Together, we’re responsible for maintaining the health of this finite resource.
All bores in at-risk groundwater sources are required to have a meter installed
The non-urban metering regulations require water users who do not have telemetry to report their monthly water usage manually.
Reporting monthly water usage helps to predict the health of water sources and informs water management decisions and allocations.
Do you need to report and how often?
The non-urban metering regulations require water users to report their usage even if it’s zero. Reporting is automatic if you have telemetry installed. If you don’t have telemetry and can take water from an at-risk groundwater source, you must manually submit your meter readings before the 14th of every month.
Check how the rules apply to you with WaterNSW’s online recording and reporting tool.
How to report your meter reads
You can report your monthly meter reads to WaterNSW in one of the following ways:
If using the online form or PDF, you will need to provide your contact information, licence and approval number, and meter readings.
Learn more about tracking groundwater extraction
Download our recording and reporting fact sheet hereWhy you need to report
Water users must meet recording and reporting requirements. These requirements are included in your work approval and water access licence (WAL) conditions. Your meter readings, along with other data, help model and predict the health of a water source.
They are also used to set available water determinations (AWDs). These numbers show how much water is available for a specific water management area or water source. AWDs allocate the amount of water available to licence holders for that year.
Without accurate data on water usage, AWDs can’t be set confidently. This could lead to AWDs being lower because of non-reporting instead of water availability and need.
By reporting your groundwater usage each month, you help preserve the resource for your community and local industries.
What happens if you don’t report
If you don’t follow the rules, NRAR will know about it. We use state-of-the-art data and technology and have teams of compliance officers on the ground who monitor and audit the use of groundwater.
We can respond in several ways to potential breaches including:
- providing information to help you comply
- issuing stop work orders and directions
- issuing cautions and fines
- prosecution in serious cases.
Other reporting requirements
If you use the same meter for both basic landholder rights and irrigation, you must record and report this water through the same methods as the licenced water.
If you do not use your bore for irrigation or commercial purposes, or if your bore is no longer in use, you can amend your approval via WaterNSW.
NRAR is monitoring compliance with this requirement in the following at-risk groundwater sources:
- Eastern recharge
- Upper Macquarie Alluvial
- Upper Murray
- Lower Gwydir
- Lower Namoi
- Lower Murrumbidgee Deep
- Lower Lachlan.