Telemetry upgrades providing big benefits for GMW customers
TL;DR
Friday 17 April, 2026
Location
Mallee
Friday 17 April, 2026
Access to water-use data has significantly improved for a number of Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) customers thanks to a recently completed telemetry project.
The GMW project has seen 82 telemeters installed along the Murray and Little Murray rivers from west of Echuca to west of Swan Hill in an area otherwise known as 'Trading Zone 7.'
The telemetry installations are providing customers with accurate flow rates and real-time water use records which will help them manage their water entitlements.
GMW Manager Diversions, Groundwater and Streams Peter Clydesdale said GMW staff previously had to manually read meters in the area, visiting the meter in-person to inspect it and record its usage data.
"The recently completed telemetry upgrades mean we can now remotely read the meters," he said.
"Reading and monitoring meters remotely helps improve water compliance as we can identify any unauthorised take more quickly than if the metres were read manually."
The telemetry upgrades also enable GMW to receive up-to-date data on the conditions of its meters, ensuring aging assets can be replaced before they fail.
Another benefit is improved water use monitoring in high trade areas.
Mr Clydesdale said it was fantastic to see the upgrades in place and customers benefitting from them.
He said having the telemetry upgrades in place while ongoing dry conditions continued to impact communities was a particularly welcome development.
"Many of our customers are doing it tough at the moment and we know that, unfortunately, this is not going to change anytime soon," he said.
"Anything we can do to help support these customers is crucial.
"By having these telemetry upgrades in place, we are helping to provide greater surety to customers about managing their water entitlements."
GMW delivered the Zone 7 Metering and Telemetry Project thanks to funding support from the Victorian and Australian governments.
GMW will soon commence the delivery of the Murray Darling Basin Telemetry Uplift Program, which will see telemetry installed on 695 high priority meters across its network.