Significant water savings are on the horizon, with Council to roll out smart water meters to all Mount Isa residents by mid-2021.
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The $2.95 million project is a joint initiative of Mount Isa City Council and the Queensland Government with $1.77 million in funding from the Queensland Government's 2019-21 Local Government Grants and Subsidy Program, and $1.18 million from Council.
The rollout of the smart water meters at Mount Isa properties is anticipated to begin in mid- 2021, with 7200 water meters to be installed or retrofitted across Mount Isa, replacing existing aging traditional meters.
The new meters will provide extremely accurate and precise water usage information for residents, who will be able to obtain their data via a web portal or smartphone app.
Meanwhile, additional sensors and intelligent alarms will be installed as part of the rollout to assist Council in identifying priority areas to address leaks in the city's reticulated potable water system.
Mayor Danielle Slade said the new system would provide unparalleled accuracy in water usage readings throughout Mount Isa and help Council to better manage the city's water network.
"The rollout of the smart water meters is something we as a Council have been looking forward to, so to hear that they are on their way is great news," Cr Slade said.
"People will be able to accurately track their own water usage data, giving them that extra peace of mind.
"And if someone has a hidden water leak on their property that they may not know about, the new system will pick it up, potentially saving the resident a significant amount of money in the long run.
"Best of all, residents or property owners won't have to pay a thing for the smart meters.
"Mount Isa's aging reticulated water system is unfortunately prone to leaks. As a result, we lose far too much of this precious resource every day that we still have to pay for.
"But this new system will address that by letting Council know about the areas where leaks are most prevalent, so that we can prioritise their repair or upgrade - after all, not all leaks are visible from the road or footpath.
"This project will save significant amounts of water and I look forward to seeing this project progress in the coming months."
Council is expected to put the project up for tender in the next few weeks.
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Samantha Campbell
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
