Metering Guidance Tool

Which of the following are true for you?

Note: Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for an exemption.
Learn more at: Water licence and approval exemptions

Press each option to find out more.

I am using my works approval solely for taking my basic landholder rights (BLR).My works approval is not connected to any water access licence.I hold a works approval, but I have not constructed any works yet.I have constructed my works, but I am not using them to take water.None of these statements apply to me.Note: Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for an exemption.

No meter required, but you must report your water take.

You can find more information on recording and reporting on the WaterNSW website

Basic landholder rights exemption

Basic landholder rights allow water to be taken for domestic and stock use—such as household needs (drinking, cooking, washing) and watering livestock—without a licence, so mandatory metering does not apply.

However, if the same work is also used to take licensed water, it must comply with all applicable metering requirements.

Learn more: Basic landholder rights

Please press submit to end the tool.

No meter required. If your works approval is not connected to a water access licence, the non urban metering rules generally do not apply.

If the works are later linked to a licence or used to take licensed water, metering requirements will apply.

Please press submit below to end the tool.

No meter required.

If your works are not yet constructed, metering does not apply.

Once constructed, you must notify your licensing authority, and metering requirements may then apply depending on how large the works are and whether they are linked to a water access licence.

Please press submit to end the tool.

No meter required.

If your works are constructed but not being used to take water (an example could be a spare pump which is not used), metering does not apply.

However, you must notify your licensing authority if the situation changes. Taking water without authorisation may be an offence, and metering requirements will apply once the works are in use.

Note: Under the Access Licence Dealing Principles Order 2004, metering requirements must be met before certain water trades can be approved. If you are the buyer of allocation water and the total volume (your entitlement + the total allocation trade this water year) is greater than 15ML and less than 100ML then as the buyer, you must have compliant meters installed on all nominated water taking works.

If you are the buyer of allocation water and the total volume (your entitlement + the total allocation trade this water year) is over 100ML then as the buyer must have an AS4747 pattern approved meter and telemetry install by a duly qualified person.

Please press submit to end the tool.

What is your water source?

Surface waterGroundwater

Is your surface water work a pump?

YesNo

Is your pump 500mm or more in diameter?

YesNo

Meter required. You need to be compliant now. A duly qualified person (DQP) must install an AS4747 pattern approved meter and telemetry.

You can find a list of DQPs on the Irrigation Australia website.

Note:

If your installed pump is smaller than what is on your work approval, you can notify WaterNSW by using the this form.
If your pump is larger than what is on your work approval you will need to apply to amend your work approval using this form.

Please press submit to end the tool.

Are your surface water pump(s) below the small works thresholds?

1 pump below 100mm in diameter

2 pumps below 75mm in diameter each

3 pumps below 50mm in diameter each

4 pumps below 40mm in diameter each

Note: Size-based thresholds are determined by aggregating all relevant works, rather than assessing them individually. This ensures metering reflects the total potential water take and supports consistent and fair application of the non urban metering rules.

For each landholding, all surface water pumps are counted together, regardless of ownership, to prevent avoidance of metering requirements through split approvals.

The same approach applies to water access licences, where all associated works are combined, even across different landholdings.

YesNo

No meter required. You are exempt under small works.

Please press submit to end the tool.

Is your groundwater work a bore?
(Note: both wells and spearpoints are classified as bores. If your work is an excavation, click ‘No’ to this question)

YesNo

Are your bores below the small works threshold?

1 water bore below 199mm in diameter

2 water bores below 160mm in diameter each

3 water bores below 130mm in diameter each

4 water bores below 120mm in diameter each

Note: Size-based thresholds are determined by aggregating all relevant works, rather than assessing them individually. This ensures metering reflects the total potential water take and supports consistent and fair application of the non urban metering rules.

For each landholding, all groundwater bores are counted together, regardless of ownership, to prevent avoidance of metering requirements through split approvals.

The same approach applies to water access licences, where all associated works are combined, even across different landholdings.

YesNo

No meter required. You are exempt under small works.

Please press submit to end the tool.

What is your total licensed entitlement nominated by this works approval?

The total entitlement of water connected to your works approval determines what type of metering you need.

Equal to or greater than 100ML Greater than 15ML but less than 100ML Equal to or less than 15ML

Meter required. You must install a pattern approved meter. However, telemetry and installation by a duly qualified person (DQP) is optional.

All works must be metered by 1 December 2027 or your works renewal date, whichever is later (you can find this date in the water register).

For a list of pattern approved meters, visit the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Non-urban water metering framework and guidelines webpage.

Note: Under the Access Licence Dealing Principles Order 2004, metering requirements must be met before certain water trades can be approved. If you are the buyer of allocation water and the total volume (your entitlement + the total allocation trade this water year) is greater than 15ML and less than 100ML then as the buyer, you must have compliant meters installed on all nominated water taking works.

If you are the buyer of allocation water and the total volume (your entitlement + the total allocation trade this water year) is over 100ML then as the buyer must have an AS4747 pattern approved meter and telemetry install by a duly qualified person.

Please press submit to end the tool.

No meter required but you must record and report your water take.

You can find more information on recording and reporting on the WaterNSW website.

Note: Under the Access Licence Dealing Principles Order 2004, metering requirements must be met before certain water trades can be approved. If you are the buyer of allocation water and the total volume (your entitlement + the total allocation trade this water year) is greater than 15ML and less than 100ML then as the buyer, you must have compliant meters installed on all nominated water taking works.

If you are the buyer of allocation water and the total volume (your entitlement + the total allocation trade this water year) is over 100ML then as the buyer must have an AS4747 pattern approved meter and telemetry install by a duly qualified person.

Please press submit to end the tool.

Where is your works approval located?

The location of your work affects your metering requirements.
Note: You can use this interactive map to verify the region of your water taking works.

Coastal regionInland region

Meter required. You need to be compliant by 1 December 2026.

A duly qualified person (DQP) must install an AS4747 pattern approved meter and telemetry.

You can find a list of DQPs on the Irrigation Australia website.

Note: Under the Access Licence Dealing Principles Order 2004, metering requirements must be met before certain water trades can be approved. If you are the buyer of allocation water and the total volume (your entitlement + the total allocation trade this water year) is greater than 15ML and less than 100ML then as the buyer, you must have compliant meters installed on all nominated water taking works.

If you are the buyer of allocation water and the total volume (your entitlement + the total allocation trade this water year) is over 100ML then as the buyer must have an AS4747 pattern approved meter and telemetry install by a duly qualified person.

Please press submit to end the tool.

Meter required. You need to be compliant now.

A duly qualified person (DQP) must install an AS4747 pattern approved meter and telemetry.

You can find a list of DQPs on the Irrigation Australia website.

Note: Under the Access Licence Dealing Principles Order 2004, metering requirements must be met before certain water trades can be approved. If you are the buyer of allocation water and the total volume (your entitlement + the total allocation trade this water year) is greater than 15ML and less than 100ML then as the buyer, you must have compliant meters installed on all nominated water taking works.

If you are the buyer of allocation water and the total volume (your entitlement + the total allocation trade this water year) is over 100ML then as the buyer must have an AS4747 pattern approved meter and telemetry install by a duly qualified person.

Please press submit to end the tool.