Household water use, leaks & conservation
Permanent water conservation measures apply to all Cairns residents.
Every drop of water is precious in every season - sunshine or rain. Water conservation measures apply across the Cairns region.
Sprinkler use is limited to:
Odd numbered houses: Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday 5am - 9am and 5pm - 9pm.
Even numbered houses: Wednesday, Friday, & Sunday 5am - 9am and 5pm - 9pm.
NO sprinkler use on Mondays.
Hand-held hoses with trigger nozzles, watering cans and buckets can be used at any time.
Every Drop, Every Season
By making some simple changes in our daily lives, we can significantly impact water conservation in our tropical paradise. Let’s all be smarter with our water!
- Cutting your daily shower by just a minute could save over 200 litres a month.
- Reducing your washing by just one load a week could save up to 50 litres. It’s also a good idea to get into the habit of only running your washing machine when you have a full load.
- Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth can save up to 10 litres per minute!
- A leaking tap can waste 14 litres of water per minute.
- Use a sprinkler timer on your nominated watering day.
Visit the Queensland Government's Using Water Wisely webpage for more tips on how to save water at home, in the garden, at work and in the community.
Smart water meters
Some Cairns homes have Smart Water Meters. Smart Water Meters use wireless technology to record water usage data, which is collected more frequently and more accurately without having to physically read the meter. The collection of data on a near real-time basis improves the ability to identify any unusual activity such as water loss or reduction in water supply.
As part of our Cairns Water Security Strategy, we recognise that water is one of our most valuable resources. Managing our water supplies to meet growing demand over the next 30 years is a high priority for Council. The use of Smart Water Meters will make a significant contribution to our water security by reducing water loss caused by leaks.
Find out how Council has been planning for the water needs of a growing population.
Smart water meter program 2023-2026
Council is replacing existing mechanical water meters with smart water meters throughout the Cairns region to improve the community’s water network and achieve overall water savings. These new meters will assist residents in identifying hidden water leaks early to minimise water wastage and help residents track and manage their water use.
Look for the Smart Drop Certified logo
Smart Drop Certified is the Trust Mark for water efficient products and services. When you see the Smart Drop Certified logo, you know the product has been assessed against clear water efficiency criteria and relevant Australian standards.
Choosing Smart Drop Certified is a simple way to save water while keeping the quality and results, you’re used to. Smart Drop is proudly sponsored by Cairns Regional Council.
Council is replacing existing mechanical water meters with smart water meters throughout the Cairns region to assist residents in identifying leaks early, minimising water wastage and improving the capability of Council’s water network. This is an action identified under Council’s Water Demand Management Strategy 2016-2025 and will make a significant contribution to our water security by achieving water savings for the community.
Smart water meters use wireless technology devices with long life batteries to record water usage data which can be collected more frequently and more accurately without having to physically read the meter for billing purposes. You will benefit from improved detection of hidden water leaks. Smart meters provide Council with information about backflow, water temperature, leaks, and broken pipes, to support the production of a low-cost, high-quality water service.
Currently, your water meter is manually read by a contractor every four months for billing purposes, which only provides Council with a one-time reading of your water usage. The new smart water meter, on the other hand, provides Council with daily data which can help you quickly identify leaks and facilitate timely repairs, improving water management and potentially saving you money.
Smart water meters are highly accurate when recording usage and some customers may notice differences in their overall water usage when compared to readings from their current meters. Before installation, all new smart meters undergo testing to ensure accuracy, including both manual and wireless readings. Your water usage bill will still be issued every four months.
All water meters are the responsibility of Council and will be repaired and maintained by Council. If you experience any issues or damage with your meter, you can report it to us for investigation.
There will be no charge to you for the cost of the new replacement smart meter or its installation. The outcomes will have long-term cost savings to Council and ratepayers over the next 20 years.
Yes, smart water meters are becoming the new industry standard, with many councils within Queensland and across Australia transitioning to this new technology. A good case study of the effectiveness of smart water meters is in Mackay where over 90% of residents now have smart water metering. As a result, the average per capita residential consumption reduced from approximately 240 litres per person per day to around 210 litres per person per day - a reduction of just over 12%, and the average duration of a water leak reduced from over 150 days to 60 days.
The smart water meters are powered by batteries with a 15 year life time. CRC will be responsible for monitoring the battery status and replacement when required, the meters have built alarming to notify council to assist with monitoring. The residences/owners/occupiers will not be required to monitor or replace batteries.
The smart water meters transfer the water consumption data securely electronically to council, this removes the need for manual water readers to visit your property. The water meters have display screen with the water consumption on them which can be manually read.
If you have a smart water meter installed at your property, your billing duration or cycle won't change. Please refer to Smart Water Meter Read Instructions ( PDF, 0.48 MB ) on how to read your smart water meter.
As part of the project Council will also be developing a customer portal which will allow users to access and monitor their own water usage data online. Once the regional installation program is complete, information about the customer portal, when it will be available, what it will offer and how you can access it, will be provided.
A water meter measures the amount of water used by each property. Generally, it will be outside and in the ground near the front of your property, usually along the fence line. Most meters are at or just below ground level and have a metal or plastic lid. If you live in a unit or apartment block, there may not be an individual water meter for each residence.
It is important that residents keep their water meter accessible and free from shrubs, grass clippings, branches and other obstructions so that Council officers can read the meter correctly and easily.
There are two kinds of water meters in use across Cairns, mechanical water meters and smart water meters.
Managing and finding water leaks
A dripping tap or a running toilet is annoying and difficult to ignore. Some leaks, however, are not so easy to find. Don't pay for water you don't use. Take the time today to check for hidden leaks in four simple steps.
- Choose a time when no one needs to use water and turn off all taps - indoors and outside. Make sure no dishwashers, washing machines, hoses, sprinklers, toilets or taps are in use.
- Find your water meter and take a reading - read both the black (KL) and the red (L) digits
- You'll need to leave the meter now for at least an hour and ensure all appliances and taps are turned off for that time
- Go back to the meter and take a second reading of both the black (KL) and the red (L) digits.
- You may have a leak if the second reading is greater than the initial reading.
- Call a licensed plumber to find and fix the leak.
If you have a smart water meter installed at your property, your billing duration or cycle won't change. Please refer to Smart Water Meter Read Instructions ( PDF, 0.27 MB ) ( PDF, 0.48 MB ) on how to read your smart water meter.
Fixing water leaks is one way to conserve and save water and money. There are many more!
FIND MORE WATER SAVING TIPS, TRICKS AND INFORMATION
Financial assistance for concealed leaks
Council recognises that residential water leaks can go undetected for relatively long periods and may cause financial difficulties for some customers. If you have had a larger than normal water account due to a concealed water leak AND the leak has been repaired by a licensed plumber, you may be eligible for financial assistance.
Assistance is only available to residential and not-for-profit water customers, and will not be considered for:
- leaks and/or bursts on internal appliances, fixtures or fittings including air conditioners, dish washers, swimming pools, hot water systems, toilet cisterns, valves, internal or external taps, sprinklers and irrigation
- situations where the leak is visible
- leaks not repaired by a licensed plumber
- plumbing that is not compliant with government regulations
- vacant land.
For details, refer to Council's Concealed Water Leak Policy ( PDF, 0.11 MB ) ( PDF, 0.11 MB ).
To apply, complete the Application for Financial Assistance - Concealed Water Leak online form.
Council is responsible for maintenance and repairs to both water and wastewater networks to your home's connection points.
Property owners are responsible for the costs, repairs and maintenance of all the water and wastewater pipes on your property, as well as any damages.
If you receive a Notification of Temporary Repairs Card from Council, you are responsible for organising a licensed plumber to check the plumbing and carry out any further repairs as necessary at your own cost. Cairns Regional Council is not responsible for prior or any further loss or damage on the property side of the service due to these repairs.
For further details about Council and Property Owner’s responsibilities, please view the Water and Resource Recovery Customer Service Standards. ( PDF, 1.74 MB )
If you are aware of a water or wastewater issue and would like to discuss this with a Council officer, please contact Water and Wastewater Operations Staff on 1300 69 22 47.
For the most up-to-date information for Freshwater Creek at Copperlode Dam's daily summary of volume, spillway level and combined regional water production data, view our CRC Water Summary Report on our water sources and supply page.
Metered standpipes provide a fair and equitable way to ensure charges reflect actual water consumption. Standpipes are used to obtain water directly from hydrants on Council mains for activities such as road works, water carting and concrete sawing.
Drawing of water from Council’s reticulation system other than by a Council-owned metered standpipe is not permitted. Fines apply for breaches. Fire Brigade and Emergency Services are exempt.
To draw water from our reticulation system, you must hire a metered standpipe on either a short term or long term basis. Form can be found in Water Billing under the Water Billing, Services and Connections Forms drop down option.
Last Updated: 21 March 2026
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