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Forms, certificates and fact sheets

Fact sheets

Forms and certificates

For water users who have not yet installed a meter

Water users who install a new or replacement meter need to:

  • ensure the meter is pattern approved (except for open channel works). Water users wishing to install an open channel meter must have the design certified by a duly qualified person
  • have the meter installed and validated by a duly qualified person, and fitted with a data logger, tamper-evident seals, and (if required) connected, via telemetry, to the government’s data acquisition service, and
  • submit the completed validation certificate (below). Water users with an open channel meter also need to submit the completed design certificate (below).
Name What is it used for? Who fills it out? Who submits it and when?
Validation certificate To demonstrate the meter has been validated A duly qualified person

Note: the duly qualified person must give the certificate to the water user within 7 days of carrying out the validation

 Water users within 28 days of receiving the certificate

Note: validation by a duly qualified person must be done every 5 years (or every 12 months for open channels), and whenever maintenance affects the metrology of the meter. A new validation certificate needs to be submitted each time this occurs

Design certificate for open channel metering equipment To demonstrate the design of an open channel meter is compliant A duly qualified person

Note: the duly qualified person must give the certificate to the water user within 7 days of carrying out the design certification

 Water users — within 28 days of receiving the certificate

For water users who already have a pattern approved meter installed before 1 April 2019

This section applies to pattern approved meters installed before 1 April 2019. See below for non-pattern approved meters.

Water users who wish to keep an existing pattern approved meter need to:

  • have the meter validated by a duly qualified person, and fitted with a data logger, tamper-evident seals, and (if required) connected, via telemetry, to the government's data acquisition service, and
  • submit the completed report (below) and validation certificate (below).
Name What is it used for? Who fills it out? Who submits it and when?
Report to rely on transitional arrangements to keep existing metering equipment For water users who want to keep meters that were installed before 1 April 2019

The report must include supporting documentation — such as a certificate of accuracy — to demonstrate that the meter is compliant

 Water users Water users —upload before roll-out date
Validation certificate To demonstrate the meter has been validated A duly qualified person

Note: the duly qualified person must give the certificate to the water user within 7 days of carrying out the validation

 Water users — within 28 days of receiving the certificate

Note: validation by a duly qualified person must be done every 5 years (or every 12 months for open channels), and whenever maintenance affects the metrology of the meter. A new validation certificate needs to be submitted each time this occurs

For water users who already have a non-pattern approved meter installed before 1 April 2019

This section applies to non-pattern approved meters installed before 1 April 2019. See above for pattern approved meters.

Water users who wish to keep an existing non-pattern approved meter need to:

  • have the meter fitted with a data logger, tamper-evident seals, and (if required) connected, via telemetry, to the government's data acquisition service, and
  • submit the completed report (below) plus either:
    • completed validation certificate (below) and a manufacturer’s certificate of accuracy, or
    • completed certificate (below) from a duly qualified person confirming the meter is accurate to within +/-5%.

We are also developing a guidance note to help water users and duly qualified persons understand what needs to be done to keep a non-pattern approved meter.

Name What is it used for? Who fills it out? Who submits it and when?
Option 1 - if a water user has a certificate of accuracy from the manufacturer and the meter can be validated
Report to rely on transitional arrangements to keep existing metering equipment To keep a meter that was installed before 1 April 2019

Note: this report must include supporting documentation — a completed validation certificate (below), plus a manufacturer’s certificate of accuracy confirming the meter was within 2.5% accuracy after manufacture

 Water users Water users —upload before roll-out date
Validation certificate To demonstrate the meter has been validated A duly qualified person

Note: the duly qualified person must give the certificate to the water user within 7 days of carrying out the validation

 Water users — within 28 days of receiving the certificate

Note: validation by a duly qualified person must be done every 5 years (or every 12 months for open channels), and whenever maintenance affects the metrology of the meter. A new validation certificate needs to be submitted each time this occurs

Option 2 - if a water user can demonstrate the accuracy of the meter in-situ
Report to rely on transitional arrangements to keep existing metering equipment To keep a meter that was installed before 1 April 2019

Note: this report must include supporting documentation – a completed certificate of accuracy (below)

 Water users

Water users —upload before roll-out date, and a new report must be submitted each time a new accuracy certificate (below) is submitted

Certificate of accuracy for existing meters (non-pattern-approved) To demonstrate a meter has been checked by a duly qualified person and the maximum permissible error of the meter does not exceed +/-5% in the field A duly qualified person

Note: the duly qualified person must give the certificate to the water user within 7 days of carrying out the validation

 Water users — within 28 days of receiving the certificate

Note: an accuracy check by a duly qualified person must be done every 5 years (or every 12 months for open channels), and whenever maintenance affects the metrology of the meter. A new certificate of accuracy completed by a duly qualified person needs to be submitted each time this occurs

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