Context
Covering almost 9,000 km² in the South West Slopes region of New South Wales, this regional Local Government Authority services a population of approximately 14,900 across a large and geographically diverse area.
Water security is a critical issue for the region. While recent rainfall has allowed Council to lift Level 1 water restrictions, managing supply and demand, particularly during the hot summer months, remains an ongoing challenge.
To improve visibility of water consumption and support more efficient management of its water resources, Council sought a reliable partner to deliver a scalable digital metering solution that could be deployed quickly and integrated with its existing systems.
The Solution
Meshed designed and deployed a region-wide LoRaWAN network to provide reliable, low-power connectivity for more than 2,000 DN20 digital water meters.
Meters connect through the Meshed managed private LoRaWAN network, providing Council with a scalable communications platform without requiring individual mobile connections for each meter.
Network gateways are monitored 24/7 using Meshed's gateway monitoring tools, with network and device data also available through the Meshed Data Visualisation and Reporting Platform.
Integration with Council's existing water management and CCMS platforms enables metering data to become part of existing operational workflows rather than creating another standalone system.
From RF Planning to Deployment
Reliable connectivity was critical to the project. Meshed undertook detailed RF planning to determine optimal gateway locations and coverage across the metering area.
Gateways were pre-provisioned before installation on Council-owned infrastructure, while meter configurations underwent end-to-end testing prior to field deployment.
Meters were supplied pre-configured with installation-ready attachments, reducing onsite complexity and helping accelerate rollout. Meshed also worked closely with the meter manufacturer throughout deployment and continues to provide ongoing network and technical support.
The Outcome
The solution provides Council with a foundation for more proactive and data-driven water management.
Automated digital meter readings provide greater visibility of consumption, creating opportunities for earlier leak detection, improved demand management and better-informed water planning.
Importantly, the LoRaWAN network is scalable beyond the initial 2,000 meters, providing Council with long-term IoT infrastructure capable of supporting additional smart water, asset monitoring and environmental sensing applications across the region. The same pattern runs at scale on the NSW South Coast.
A meter that reads itself is useful. Two thousand of them on infrastructure you already own is a strategy.
