Q1) We have taps supplying the common ground. How is this managed?
Q2) I am in a maisonette. My neighbour and I are in dispute over water usage. I want a sub meter of my own to measure my usage only.
Q3) How do we know if the meters are accurate?
Q4) Why am I receiving an account from Strata Water Solutions, I already pay SA Water!
Q5) My meter appears to have a leak. Who can I contact?
Q6) How can I pay my account?
Q7) What happens to Strata Water accounts if I sell the property or have just moved in?
Q8) Access is always available to my meter, do I really need an electronic remote reader fitted to it?
Q2) I am in a maisonette. My neighbour and I are in dispute over water usage. I want a sub meter of my own to measure my usage only.
Q3) How do we know if the meters are accurate?
Q4) Why am I receiving an account from Strata Water Solutions, I already pay SA Water!
Q5) My meter appears to have a leak. Who can I contact?
Q6) How can I pay my account?
Q7) What happens to Strata Water accounts if I sell the property or have just moved in?
Q8) Access is always available to my meter, do I really need an electronic remote reader fitted to it?
Q1) We have taps supplying the common ground. How is this managed?
There are 2 options available:
Option 1)
After reading all the sub meters, the left over amount is classified as “common ground” and is split equally amongst each unit and incorporated in their bill
Option 2)
The left over is billed as a separate account to the Strata/Community Corporation
Q2) I am in a maisonette. My neighbor and I are in dispute over water usage. I want a sub meter of my own to measure my usage only.
You can get a meter of your own but it's important to note:
(1) SA Water do not read the meter
(2) It must be with the approval of the other unit owner.
(3) If you require the services of Strata Water Solutions to read the meter and apportion the SA Water account based on the individual usage then the other owner must also be part of the agreement (agreeing to the quarterly charge).
The SA Water meter supplies both properties. It may be on your property but that is irrelevant.
One sub meter may suffice however it is recommended that 2 sub meters are installed. Why? The SA Water meter can “double up” as the second meter but there are potential pitfalls. What if the new sub meter slows down? What if the SA Water meter slows down? What happens if there is a leakage on the common ground or between units?
With 2 individual sub meters, total usage can be balanced back to the SA Water usage. There is no discrepancy.
Q3) How do we know if the meters are accurate?
The sum of the sub meters should equal the usage registered on the SA Water meter. Obviously if there are common ground taps then there will be a variation but it should be accountable. The meters can register slow but rarely register fast (if at all).
Q4) Why am I receiving an account from Strata Water Solutions, I already pay SA Water!
The account from SA Water will have no water usage included. The SA Water account is for your supply and sewerage charges. The account from Strata Water Solutions is for water usage and does not include supply and sewerage.
Q5) My meter appears to have a leak. Who can I contact?
As you own your individual meter, we recommend that you contact your preferred plumber.
You can also investigate for signs of leaks yourself. The best time to check for a leak is when no water is being used, such as when nobody will be home or late at night (make sure no one is using the toilet overnight). Write down your meter reading at night before the last person goes to bed. Read the meter again in the morning before anyone starts using the water. If the number has increased and you have not used any water, you may have a leak.
Q6) How can I pay my account?
The payment options are:
(1) BPay
(2) EFT/Direct Credit (from your computer)
(3) Online (credit card) through our website – Bank charges of 1.68% apply
(4) Payment at your local bank
(5) Cheque or Money Order
Q7) What happens to Strata Water accounts if I sell the property or have just moved in?
The current system is as follows:
The Conveyancer requests a special reading of the sub meter at settlement. Monies are paid to Strata Water Solutions and
credited to the purchaser's account. The credit is shown on the next account. If no such adjustment occurs the new owner will be responsible for the account. Our suggestion is that he/she refer back to the Conveyancer. If Strata Water Solutions is not notified of a settlement and is chasing outstanding payments, an additional charge may be applied against the account.
Q8) Do I really need an electronic remote reader fitted to my meter?
If the sub meter is to be fixed in an enclosed area of the property, or in an obscure area where access may be a problem either now or in the future then the remote electronic reader is a compulsory requirement. This avoids any issues when the meter is read quarterly.
There are 2 options available:
Option 1)
After reading all the sub meters, the left over amount is classified as “common ground” and is split equally amongst each unit and incorporated in their bill
Option 2)
The left over is billed as a separate account to the Strata/Community Corporation
Q2) I am in a maisonette. My neighbor and I are in dispute over water usage. I want a sub meter of my own to measure my usage only.
You can get a meter of your own but it's important to note:
(1) SA Water do not read the meter
(2) It must be with the approval of the other unit owner.
(3) If you require the services of Strata Water Solutions to read the meter and apportion the SA Water account based on the individual usage then the other owner must also be part of the agreement (agreeing to the quarterly charge).
The SA Water meter supplies both properties. It may be on your property but that is irrelevant.
One sub meter may suffice however it is recommended that 2 sub meters are installed. Why? The SA Water meter can “double up” as the second meter but there are potential pitfalls. What if the new sub meter slows down? What if the SA Water meter slows down? What happens if there is a leakage on the common ground or between units?
With 2 individual sub meters, total usage can be balanced back to the SA Water usage. There is no discrepancy.
Q3) How do we know if the meters are accurate?
The sum of the sub meters should equal the usage registered on the SA Water meter. Obviously if there are common ground taps then there will be a variation but it should be accountable. The meters can register slow but rarely register fast (if at all).
Q4) Why am I receiving an account from Strata Water Solutions, I already pay SA Water!
The account from SA Water will have no water usage included. The SA Water account is for your supply and sewerage charges. The account from Strata Water Solutions is for water usage and does not include supply and sewerage.
Q5) My meter appears to have a leak. Who can I contact?
As you own your individual meter, we recommend that you contact your preferred plumber.
You can also investigate for signs of leaks yourself. The best time to check for a leak is when no water is being used, such as when nobody will be home or late at night (make sure no one is using the toilet overnight). Write down your meter reading at night before the last person goes to bed. Read the meter again in the morning before anyone starts using the water. If the number has increased and you have not used any water, you may have a leak.
Q6) How can I pay my account?
The payment options are:
(1) BPay
(2) EFT/Direct Credit (from your computer)
(3) Online (credit card) through our website – Bank charges of 1.68% apply
(4) Payment at your local bank
(5) Cheque or Money Order
Q7) What happens to Strata Water accounts if I sell the property or have just moved in?
The current system is as follows:
The Conveyancer requests a special reading of the sub meter at settlement. Monies are paid to Strata Water Solutions and
credited to the purchaser's account. The credit is shown on the next account. If no such adjustment occurs the new owner will be responsible for the account. Our suggestion is that he/she refer back to the Conveyancer. If Strata Water Solutions is not notified of a settlement and is chasing outstanding payments, an additional charge may be applied against the account.
Q8) Do I really need an electronic remote reader fitted to my meter?
If the sub meter is to be fixed in an enclosed area of the property, or in an obscure area where access may be a problem either now or in the future then the remote electronic reader is a compulsory requirement. This avoids any issues when the meter is read quarterly.
