❓ Hon Diane Evers asks about high water bills following meter maintenance for Water Corporation, Aqwest, and Busselton Water. The response details inspection practices and explains why pressure tests aren't standard.
AnsweredQoN 1369Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WATER — LEAK
CHARGES
1369. Hon DIANE EVERS to the minister representing the
Minister for Water:
I refer to my question without
notice 1206 on 22 October 2019 and the minister's response.
For the Water Corporation, Aqwest
and Busselton Water, I ask the following.
(1) How many of
those bills in excess of $3 000 occurred within three months of the billing
cycle of any maintenance to meters or pipes by the agency?
(2) How often are meters inspected
and tested?
(3) When
replacing meters or conducting maintenance, are pressure tests conducted to
ensure that no leaks or blockages have occurred after maintenance; and —
(a) if no, why not; and
(b) if yes, are the results recorded
against the customer's files?
CHARGES
1369. Hon DIANE EVERS to the minister representing the
Minister for Water:
I refer to my question without
notice 1206 on 22 October 2019 and the minister's response.
For the Water Corporation, Aqwest
and Busselton Water, I ask the following.
(1) How many of
those bills in excess of $3 000 occurred within three months of the billing
cycle of any maintenance to meters or pipes by the agency?
(2) How often are meters inspected
and tested?
(3) When
replacing meters or conducting maintenance, are pressure tests conducted to
ensure that no leaks or blockages have occurred after maintenance; and —
(a) if no, why not; and
(b) if yes, are the results recorded
against the customer's files?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
The Minister for Water has provided the following information.
For the Water Corporation —
(1) Due to the
level of information required, this component cannot be answered in the time
frame requested. I therefore ask the honourable member to place this part of the
question on notice.
(2) New meters
are inspected and sample tested prior to installation. They are then visually
inspected every 60 days as part of the meter-reading cycle.
(3) (a) Pressure
testing normally involves pressurising a pipe or equipment between two
isolation points. This is not practical or necessary for meters installed at a customer's
property. Following installation of a meter, it is visually inspected for
leaks, and flow tests are conducted to ensure proper functioning.
(b) Not applicable.
For Aqwest —
(1) Two bills occurred.
(2) Meters are
visually inspected quarterly during meter reading. Testing is conducted when
requested by the customer.
(3) (a) Pressure
testing normally involves pressurising a pipe or equipment between two
isolation points. This is not practical or necessary for meters installed at a customer's
property. Following installation of a meter, it is visually inspected for leaks
and flow tests are conducted to ensure proper functioning.
(b) Not applicable.
For Busselton Water —
(1) One bill occurred.
(2) All meters
are read three times a year. A small number of individual meters are inspected
each metering cycle to validate meter-reading accuracy. Meters are also tested
upon a customer's request.
(3) (a) The answer is the same as
for the other two corporations.
(b) Not
applicable.
The Minister for Water has provided the following information.
For the Water Corporation —
(1) Due to the
level of information required, this component cannot be answered in the time
frame requested. I therefore ask the honourable member to place this part of the
question on notice.
(2) New meters
are inspected and sample tested prior to installation. They are then visually
inspected every 60 days as part of the meter-reading cycle.
(3) (a) Pressure
testing normally involves pressurising a pipe or equipment between two
isolation points. This is not practical or necessary for meters installed at a customer's
property. Following installation of a meter, it is visually inspected for
leaks, and flow tests are conducted to ensure proper functioning.
(b) Not applicable.
For Aqwest —
(1) Two bills occurred.
(2) Meters are
visually inspected quarterly during meter reading. Testing is conducted when
requested by the customer.
(3) (a) Pressure
testing normally involves pressurising a pipe or equipment between two
isolation points. This is not practical or necessary for meters installed at a customer's
property. Following installation of a meter, it is visually inspected for leaks
and flow tests are conducted to ensure proper functioning.
(b) Not applicable.
For Busselton Water —
(1) One bill occurred.
(2) All meters
are read three times a year. A small number of individual meters are inspected
each metering cycle to validate meter-reading accuracy. Meters are also tested
upon a customer's request.
(3) (a) The answer is the same as
for the other two corporations.
(b) Not
applicable.
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