Digital Water Meters
Council have completed stage 1 rollout of 800 Digital Water Meter installations across Longreach as of 30th November 2025. Stage 2 rollout will commence early 2026.
This project is funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the National Water Grid Water Infrastructure for Sustainable and Efficient Regions initiative. The project will replace approximately 1,800 ageing mechanical water meters with digital water meters, supporting the Longreach Water Security for Growth Project.
Council has introduced a customer portal where residents can log in and check their water usage. This feature empowers our community to manage their water consumption effectively.
Sign up to the Water Portal today!
You can access the portal by clicking this link https://waterportal.longreach.qld.gov.au/
Or you can download the Water Portal App for FREE from the App Store!
Water Portal – Apps on Google PlayWater Portal on the App Store 
Why sign up?
Once registered, you’ll receive automatic potential leak alerts and can customise your own notifications. If you’re not signed up to the portal, the system will only send monthly alerts for significant leaks. The system can generate notifications via SMS, email or letter, and Council will determine how your alert is sent based on the contact information we have on file for property owners.
What to do if you receive a leak notification?
- Check for any visible leaks or wet areas around the property
- Check for leaking taps or irrigation
- Check your evaporative air cooler float
- Do you have a swimming pool filling up or associated leak?
What to do next:
- If there are no visible water leaks, please turn off any systems using water at your property. Take a photo or record your current water meter reading.
- Leave all water off for one hour, then take another photo or note the reading.
- If your meter reading has increased, this indicates a potential leak, and you may want to arrange for a licensed plumber to investigate and repair as necessary.
In the meantime, we can arrange our council plumber to go around and assist you to read your meter if required.
Who is responsible for leaks?
Council is responsible for maintaining water meters and pipes between the water main up to and including the meter. Any plumbing on the property side of the meter is the property owner's responsibility. Should there be a leak past the meter or inside the property, it is the property owner's responsibility to resolve/engage a licensed plumber. Residents are to ensure that the meter remains accessible for reading, testing, and maintenance purposes.
Real Savings - catch leaks before they cost you!
The system is already working! Council has approved a number of property owners, tenants, and real estate agents who have signed up. One property owner has saved 9.7KL (9,744L) per day after fixing a faulty float on their evaporative air-conditioner. Without detection, they could have lost over 2,300KL this financial year—almost an Olympic pool of water! The leak was found after the system detected a continuous water flow over 48 hours.
"I am incredibly grateful for this new system - it is evident that without it we would all be unaware of the issue until it's too late.
Ninez ~ Resident/Property Owner"
Council would love you to share your outcomes with us! To date we have had faulty irrigation timers, leaking taps, faulty evaporative cooler floats and leaking toilets.
Longreach water allocation:
Longreach is fortunate to offer standard residential properties a water allocation of 1200 kilolitres per year (1.2 million litres), that is an average 3.2 kilolitres per day (3200 litres per day).
You can monitor your water usage in the Water Portal to ensure you are not using in excess of your allocation.
Reminder: The Water Portal only shows your water consumption since your digital water meter was installed. Billing for 2025/2026 financial year will include water usage recorded on your mechanical meter as well as your new digital water meter.
Some of the benefits of the project include:
Water Conservation: Real-time water usage data will enable residents to adopt water-saving practices.
Early Leak Detection: Digital meters will automatically read and relay water usage daily allowing Council personnel to identify leaks in the network — including those occurring within residential properties.
Billing Accuracy: The automated readings will reduce the risk of human error, ensuring accurate billing for our customers.
Improved Infrastructure Program: The Digital Water Meter Installation Project will provide real time data to assist with forward planning capital costs for water security and/or infrastructure upgrades
What to expect during installation:
- Water may be temporarily discoloured or sputtering due to air pockets. Run taps for 30 seconds until clear.
- If issues persist, contact Council
Rollout stages
Stage 1 – (Nov-Dec 2025) South Side, Spoonbill St through to Falcon St, including Wonga St, Brolga St, Coot St and Stilt St. *COMPLETE 30.11.2025*
Stage 2 – (Jan-April 2026) Remainder of the South side and all of the North side, including meter connections along Cramsie Muttaburra Road
Work will be carried out by Council Plumbers commencing in early November between the hours of 7:00am to 5:00pm weekdays with up to 15 minute disruptions to your network.
For questions or additional information please contact council on (07) 4658 4111 or email council@longreach.qld.gov.au.