Vermont South digital metering upgrade to help locals save water and money

Vermont South residents will be among the first in Melbourne to be able to save water and money as digital meters are progressively installed on their properties as part of a Yarra Valley Water trial.

Initially, 780 properties will have the new digital meters fitted. Benefits include the ability to quickly detect hidden water leaks allowing Yarra Valley Water to notify customers so they can take action and avoid bill shock down the track.

Yarra Valley Water Managing Director, Pat McCafferty said that digital metering is one way that Yarra Valley Water is utilising technology across its network to provide a greater level of service for customers.

“Digital meters will allow us to manage our water more sustainably. This is more important than ever as Melbourne’s population grows and the city gets hotter and drier. There is also the prospect of more droughts in the future – placing increased strain on our water storages.  

“We are constantly looking to find smarter solutions for managing our water network and installing digital meters will help us to do this, as well as ensuring customers can save money by fixing leaks quickly,” Mr McCafferty said

Properties in Vermont South are the first in Yarra Valley Water’s service area to receive the new meters. The program and further trials elsewhere will be monitored closely and assessed in terms of costs, benefits and customer experience.

The trials will inform a decision on broadening the implementation of digital meters across Yarra Valley Water’s service area in Melbourne’s eastern and northern suburbs.

Customers will also be able to monitor their daily water usage online and through a mobile phone app currently being developed, which will assist them to save water around the home. This will include SMS alerts regarding potential leaks on their property.

The upgrade is free of charge to customers and will take place over several weeks commencing in August 2019 in Vermont South.

The trial in Vermont South is one of several current digital metering trials happening across Melbourne in an industry wide   collaboration involving Melbourne’s three water corporations.

For more information visit www.yvw.com.au/digitalmeters