• About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Events
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Newsletter
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Contracts awarded
    • Open tenders and opportunities
    • Events
  • Features
  • Water
  • Wastewater
  • Gas
  • Electricity
  • Civil Construction
  • Events
No Results
View All Results
  • News
    • Contracts awarded
    • Open tenders and opportunities
    • Events
  • Features
  • Water
  • Wastewater
  • Gas
  • Electricity
  • Civil Construction
  • Events
No Results
View All Results
Home Digital Utilities IOT

New digitally connected water network project

by Lauren DeLorenzo
September 22, 2021
in IOT, News, Smart meters, Sustainability
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
water meter
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Unitywater’s Digital Neighbourhood Program has produced water and cost savings through new smart meter technology.

The program, which was created to improve the operational management of the water network and customer experience, includes 10,000 digitally-enabled meters installed across selected Sunshine Coast suburbs in Queensland.

The meters include both loggers and integrated meters and have detected 17 leaks since the rollout began in June.

Unitywater Executive Manager Customer Delivery, Rhett Duncan, said leaks that would have otherwise gone undetected until the customer’s bill arrived have saved four million litres of water – enough to fill almost two Olympic-sized swimming pools.

“With the South East Queensland combined water grid dam level hovering around 58 per cent, water conservation continues to be one of Unitywater’s most important missions,” Mr Duncan said. 

“These devices are a great asset in helping us conserve our precious water supplies.”

Customers were notified on day one of the leak detection via text message and email. The early detection saved the customers a combined $16,000 based on daily water loss from the day of repair to the next bill date. 

“These devices allow us to alert customers if there is a leak on their side of the meter to avoid that horrendous bill shock that can come through at the end of the billing quarter,” Mr Duncan said.

Acoustic leak detection (ALD) and pressure transient sensors are also enabling real time recognition of events occurring in the network​. 

ALD sensors led to a significant leak detection that would have resulted in 130 kilolitres of water lost per day until detected.

The program also includes communication networks to carry the Internet of Things (IoT) data from new devices to the business and online water quality monitoring devices.

The water quality monitoring devices analyse disinfectant (chlorine) levels, microbial levels, and other water quality indicators such as pH levels, turbidity, conductivity and ammonia levels.

The next phase of the smart tech trial will be the consolidation of the project’s insights and outcomes to allow Unitywater to assess the potential benefits of rolling out across the wider Unitywater network of more than 350,000 customers in the fast-growing Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions.

“The digital transformation is really exciting for us. It’s about taking our pipes, our pumps and our assets and turning them into smart assets that talk to us 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Mr Duncan said.

“It is about identifying how Unitywater needs to operate differently and how we need to change the way we work to maximise the benefits of this technology that ultimately will deliver lower cost to our customers.

“The combination of right devices, a reliable communications network and big data is providing us with the foundation to deliver real-time information to our people to make faster, more informed decisions and to reduce customer disruptions.”

Related Posts

Image:  kstipek/stock.adobe.com

WA seeks industry feedback on future energy needs

by Sarah MacNamara
June 18, 2025

The Western Australian Government will engage with peak industry bodies to assess how the state can position its economy to...

The new community battery in Coburg. Image: Jemena

Jemena switches on new community battery

by Sarah MacNamara
June 18, 2025

Residents in Coburg are set to harness cheaper, cleaner and reliable energy, with Jemena and the Federal Government launching a...

Image: New South Wales Government

NSW Government unveils landmark VPP

by Sarah MacNamara
June 18, 2025

New South Wales is celebrating the launch of its first large-scale virtual power plant (VPP), aimed at managing the reliable...

Please login to join discussion

Read our magazine

Join our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.
Utility is the title of choice for decision makers at all levels of water and energy utilities, as well as other major players like consulting engineers and first-tier contractors. Utility is integrated across print and online, and explores the biggest news and issues across the utility industry. It is Australia’s only dedicated utility magazine, and covers all areas of the utility sector, including water and sewer, gas, electricity, communications and the NBN.

Subscribe to our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.

About Utility

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Digital magazine
  • Events
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Collection Notice
  • Privacy Policy

Popular Topics

  • News
  • Water
  • Electricity
  • Projects
  • Water and Wastewater Treatment
  • Spotlight
  • Civil Construction
  • Renewable Energy

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited

No Results
View All Results
NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Contracts awarded
    • Open tenders and opportunities
    • Events
  • Features
  • Water
  • Wastewater
  • Gas
  • Electricity
  • Civil Construction
  • Events
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited