RESIDENTS living in Mossman and the surrounding areas will soon have the opportunity to save hundreds of dollars on their annual water bill with the installation of a new smart water meter.
Douglas Shire Council will be installing the new smart water meter at most properties with reticulated water supply as part of a $1.1 million investment in water security.
This is the second stage of the meter rollout and will commence next Monday, 6 March 2023.
The first phase saw about 900 properties in Port Douglas fitted with the new digital device, resulting in 92ML of water saved in the past nine months.
To put this into perspective, this is more water than 36 Mossman Swimming Pools could hold, and equates to financial savings of about $150,000 or $166 per property where a new meter was installed.
Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr is optimistic that the smart water meter program expansion could see savings flow into thousands of households. He explains that the program allows Council and property owners to detect leaks quicker than ever before and reduce the amount of water being wasted.
Under Stage Two, about 3500 smart water meters will be installed at eligible properties, and if the current rate of savings continues, more than 300ML of water could be saved from leaking into the ground this year.
The smart water meter installation will begin with remaining properties in Port Douglas and Craiglie before contractors make their way to Mossman and its surrounding areas.
Property owners will receive a letter notifying them of the upcoming installation and information about the MiWater Customer Portal.
The portal is now available for properties in Douglas Shire with a smart water meter, and allows residents to track their water usage online and identify leaks quickly, saving money on their next water bill.
The customer portal is accessible on computers or smartphones, anytime and anywhere.
To register for free, go to miwater.douglas.qld.gov.au.
DOUGLAS SHIRE COUNCIL
