Water Meter Building Codes & Rules

- Water Meter Tools™ simplifies the National Construction Code (NCC) with interactive graphics, including deemed to comply & best practices.

Backflow Prevention Device if required

Water Meter

Industry Recommendation

Location & Orientation^{Industry Recommendation}

Must be installed to the direction of flow

(Meter incapable of recording reverse flow)

Locate close to the water extraction point
Easily accessible for reading & maintenance
Consider garden level & fence location

Do not locate inside

The building
Garage
Ceiling space
A kitchen sink / cupboard

Side Boundary

Industry Recommendation

Impact Protection^{Industry Recommendation}

Tamper proof
Safety bollards where applicable
If in a cage or a pit
With trafficable cast iron or plastic lid
500mm away from power pillar
Must be approved by the Water Authority
Located ≥ 600mm from any driveway

Industry Recommendation

Installation^{Industry Recommendation}

Above or below ground depending on site conditions
Meter assembled horizontally
Not installed on a vertical or sloping pipe
Pipework, Valves, & Fittings of approved metallic material, colour & in accordance with AS/NZS 3500
Manufacturer’s serial number clearly visible
For multiple installations, each meter must be clearly identified with a durable label

Adaptor

Drinking Water Main Tap

Polyethylene Pipe

Adaptor

Ball

Valve

Recycled Water

Front Boundary

Finished Ground Level

Compacted

Pipe Overlay

Compacted Pipe Bedding

Haunch Support

To Water Main

Meter Stop

Right Angle Valve

To Building

Cover

Clearance

- copy

Copper Riser

- copy

Clearance

Industry Recommendation

Distance between unions to

Authority Requirements^{Industry Recommendation}

Private Sub-Meter (Flow Meter)

Industry Recommendation

Maintenance^{Industry Recommendation}

Keep safe access & free from
Grease, oil, fumes & hazardous materials
Overgrown vegetation
Dangerous equipment
Guarantee accuracy & clarity of the meter display

Industry Recommendation

≥ 300^{Industry Recommendation}

Industry Recommendation

Mains Connection^{Industry Recommendation}

Excavation to Authority requirements

AS/NZS 3500.1:2021, 5.11

≥ 75^{AS/NZS 3500.1:2021, 5.11}

AS/NZS 3500.1:2021, 5.10

C^{AS/NZS 3500.1:2021, 5.10}

Industry Recommendation

Copper Riser Pipe^{Industry Recommendation}

6mm Clearance all round

AS/NZS 3500.1:2021, 5.11

≥ 75^{AS/NZS 3500.1:2021, 5.11}

AS/NZS 3500.1:2021, 5.11

≥ 75^{AS/NZS 3500.1:2021, 5.11}

AS/NZS 3500.1:2021, 5.11

≥ 75^{AS/NZS 3500.1:2021, 5.11}

Industry Recommendation

≥ 1.2m^{Industry Recommendation}

Industry Recommendation

90°^{Industry Recommendation}

Industry Recommendation

≥ 300^{Industry Recommendation}

Industry Recommendation

300 to 600^{Industry Recommendation}

Industry Recommendation

300 to 2m^{Industry Recommendation}

Industry Recommendation

150

300^{Industry Recommendation}

Industry Recommendation

≥ 300^{Industry Recommendation}

Proximity of Services

Ensure minimum distances between services^[1]
Underground services to be identified accordingly with marker tape^[2]

Underground Separation

NCC 2022 V2

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 Vol 3 Sec B

May 2023

NCC 2022 Vol 3, B1D1 (1)

AS/NZS 3500.1:2021, 15.3

Water Services installed to NCC Volume 3 Section B & AS/NZS 3500.1^{NCC 2022 Vol 3, B1D1 (1)AS/NZS 3500.1:2021, 15.3}

AS/NZS 3500.1:2021, 5.3

Ensure minimum distances between services^{AS/NZS 3500.1:2021, 5.3}
Underground services to be identified accordingly with marker tape^{AS/NZS 3500.1:2021, 5.3}

Cover, Bedding & Backfill

Carefully position the pipes into proper alignment within trench^[1]
Surround pipes with ≥ 75mm^[2]
Compacted sand, or
Fine-grade soil

Backfill RULES

NCC 2022 V2

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 Vol 3 Sec B

May 2023

AS/NZS 3500.1:2021, 5.10

NCC 2022 Vol 3, B1D1 (1)

Water Services installed to NCC Volume 3 Section B & AS/NZS 3500.1^{AS/NZS 3500.1:2021, 5.10NCC 2022 Vol 3, B1D1 (1)}

Bedding RULES

NCC 2022 V2

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 Vol 3 Sec C

May 2023

AS/NZS 3500.2:2021, 5.4.2

AS/NZS 3500.2:2021, 5.4.2 (d)

AS/NZS 3500.2:2021, 5.4.2 (c)

Filling Material for Drain Pipe to be^{AS/NZS 3500.2:2021, 5.4.2}

7 to 10mm gravel or crushed rocks, or
1:4 (Portland cement : sand) workable Cement Mortar consistency, or
Cement Mortar Bedding with > 1:5 slope (for rock & shale bases)^{AS/NZS 3500.2:2021, 5.4.2 (d)}
≥ 50mm depth below barrel of pipe
≥ 75mm wide
≥ 20mm away from flexible joints
≤ 1.5m CTS Pipe Supports prior to mortar bedding
Or sift sand through 2mm sieve without clay & organic materials^{AS/NZS 3500.2:2021, 5.4.2 (c)}

Informative

AS/NZS 3500.1:2021, 5.11

Carefully position the pipes into proper alignment within trench^Informative
Surround pipes with ≥ 75mm^{AS/NZS 3500.1:2021, 5.11}
Compacted sand, or
Fine-grade soil