Digital Water Meters
Digital water meters, or 'smart meters' as they're more commonly known, are water meters that log water usage and securely transmit this data in hourly intervals. A smart meter can come in two forms - a data logger and transmitter that can be retrofitted to an existing mechanical meter, or an ultrasonic meter that includes the data logger and transmitter.
A mix of both meters can be found in real life projects. The smart meters will communicate using Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), a Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) that operates using the existing mobile phone data network.
Benefits of Smart Meters
Smart meters provide instantaneous water consumption data and can help customers better understand their water use. They have also been shown to be an effective tool for detecting leaks. It is estimated that smart meters can reduce water use in the home by up to five per cent.
Are Smart Meters Safe?
Smart meters use low power wide area networks to communicate. The selected supplier will be required to meet relevant health and safety guidelines.
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) reports no established scientific evidence that low-level RF EME exposure from smart meters causes health effects.
Smart meters are regulated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The ACMA's regulatory arrangements require wireless devices to comply with the exposure limits in the ARPANSA RF Standard.
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