Murrumba Downs is one of five suburbs receiving digital water meter installations during June. The initiative forms part of an expanding Unitywater program that has already fitted about 4,000 devices across its service region since March 2026 and issued more than 160 notifications advising customers they may have a leak.
Almost 2,300 properties across Murrumba Downs, Kallangur, Bray Park, Strathpine and Warner are included in this round of installations.
For households nearby in Albany Creek who have not yet received notice of their own upgrade, the rollout represents what is likely coming their way as Unitywater continues expanding the program across its network.
What makes a digital meter different
The digital upgrade provides a more complete picture of water use across Unitywater’s network to help catch issues early. While a traditional meter is typically only read once every three months, this digital technology allows for faster leak identification and earlier notification of potential leaks to customers.
This gives households the opportunity to locate and fix a problem before it shows up as an unexpectedly large, clearer bill.
Unitywater Acting Executive Manager Customer Experience Steve Wimberley explained the operational logic behind why some streets see installations before their neighbours.
“We’re installing the meters in ‘network blocks’, which are defined by the water supply infrastructure layout, rather than street-by-street,” he said. “This means residents may see their neighbours’ meters being upgraded but not theirs yet and this is an intentional operational approach.”
The numbers behind the program
Unitywater’s earlier pilot program delivered substantial results across 10,000 properties. The trial recorded more than 800 million litres of water savings, more than $5 million in customer savings, and early leak identification support for more than 3,500 households.
Properties left unattended for extended periods are particularly vulnerable to undetected leaks. This technology closes that gap by flagging unusual water use quickly, preventing scenarios where property owners return home from a holiday to major, undetected water damage.
How the installation process works
Customers scheduled to receive a digital meter in the next six months will receive a letter from Unitywater, followed by a notice approximately five to 10 days before their installation window. Residents do not need to be home for the upgrade, which takes between five minutes to one hour.
“We don’t always need to turn off your water for this upgrade, but if we do, we will notify you beforehand,” Mr Wimberley said.
The standard installation comes at no additional cost if received as per Unitywater’s schedule. However, customers wishing to have an early upgrade can opt in, which may incur an additional fee.
For more information, visit Unitywater’s Digital Metering Program page at unitywater.com/smart-meters.
Published 16-June-2026
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