Public invited to view G-MW's meter testing program

Public invited to view G-MW's meter testing program

G-MW customers and members of the local community are invited to view Gouburn-Murray Water's (G-MW) meter testing rig in action this season, as G-MW expands its meter testing program to a further 52 sites across all irrigation areas.

According to G-MW Managing Director Russell Cooper the rig is the first of its kind in Australia and the public viewing program is in response to the considerable community interest in last year's test program.

The test rig provides accurate and comparable test results for irrigation meters in the field with a testing system accuracy of better than 1 percent.

"Last year our pilot project tested 28 meters. This year we will expand the data set to further validate the earlier estimates of meter error and to increase our current system knowledge," said Mr Cooper.

G-MW is inviting members of the public to view the test rig in action at a nominated site in each of G-MW's irrigation areas. The rig will be operating in the Torrumbarry and Pyramid Boort Irrigation Areas through to early November. Initial viewing dates are:

Weather, demand for irrigation water and site access may force changes to the program so visitors are encouraged to contact the local G-MW office on the day to confirm the test is going ahead as planned.

G-MW will confirm dates and locations for the Central Goulburn, Shepparton, Campaspe-Rochester and Murray Valley irrigation areas in coming weeks.

G-MW's testing program was initiated in response to the revised National Metering Standards proposed to take effect from 2009 that will require meters to operate within +/- 5% accuracy in the field.  Last year's results for Dethridge meters indicated the wheels always measured in favour of the irrigator but the amount varied from 1 to 24 percent, and averaged around 10 percent.

"An average of 10 percent is consistent with the results of the many earlier studies and research, however our test results indicated many of the factors causing meter error cannot be controlled by G-MW," said Mr Cooper.

G-MW has approximately 18,000 Dethridge wheels in place across the region, and last year G-MW refurbished around 10 percent of these.

"Our testing suggests that even with this maintenance regime in place the Dethridge wheels are simply too low-tech to operate reliably within the more stringent tolerances set down in the new National Metering Standards," said Mr Cooper.

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Media Contact:      Linda Nieuwenhuizen

Position:                Manager Corporate Communications  

Telephone:            5833 5776 or 0412 183 792