Unit metering in Class A and Class B developments
Individual unit water metering enables separate billing of customers on a ‘user pays’ basis by measuring water use for each individual unit rather than shared across an entire development.
The ACT Government introduced legislation requiring individual unit water metering in new Class A and Class B unit titled developments.
The requirements for Class B have already been implemented.
As the ACT’s regulated water utility, Icon Water is responsible for applying these requirements under the Water and Sewerage Technical Code Utilities (Technical Regulation) Approval 2024 through the technical standard and standard drawings.
Icon Water is consulting on the proposed technical standard and drawings supporting the implementation of Class A metering requirements. Your feedback will help ensure that the proposed standard and drawings are practical, fit for purpose and informed by industry experience before they are finalised. See links below for more information.
What is a Class A or Class B unit?
In the ACT, unit title developments are generally classified as either Class A or Class B. The classification depends on how the boundaries of individual units are defined.
Class A unit
A unit where boundaries are defined by the building structure (floors, walls and ceilings). Typically, apartments in multi-storey buildings.
Class B unit
A unit where boundaries are defined by surveyed land boundaries. Typically, townhouses or similar dwellings with a footprint on the ground not vertically stacked.
What is a unit title development?
A unit title development is a development created under the Unit Titles Act 2001 through the registration of a unit title plan. Further information on unit title developments is available from the ACT Government.
What is unit metering?
Unit metering is the arrangement of water meters within a unit title development (Class A or Class B). A master meter measures the total water supply to the property, and individual sub-meters, installed downstream of the master meter, measure water usage of the individual unit. A separate sub-meter measures water usage for common property areas where required.
Unit metering requirements
Unit metering requirements are set out in Icon Water’s STD-SPE-M-006 Requirements for Property Service Connections and Water Meters and applied in accordance with ACT Government legislation.
The requirements differ between Class A and Class B developments due to differences in building form, access, servicing and installation arrangements.
Choose the option below that matches your development for more information.
Information, draft standards and current consultation
Information and approved requirements