Water Meter Installation SWMS
Water meter installation and replacement requires excavation around existing water mains connections, isolation of water supply, and connection of new meter assemblies. The work typically occurs in ro
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Water meter installation covers the installation and replacement of water meters and meter assemblies that measure the water supplied to a property — including the meter, isolation valves, dual check valve or backflow protection at the meter, and the connection to the service. It is plumbing work, often carried out in meter boxes, pits or chambers, and while individual installations are routine, the hazards include working in restricted or confined meter locations, the pressure of the charged service, protecting the drinking water supply, and coordination with the network utility whose meter is being installed. This document is written on the basis that water meters are installed by a licensed plumber in accordance with the network utility's requirements and the water services standard, with backflow protection at the meter and the supply protected.
Water meter assemblies are installed to AS/NZS 3500.1, the water services part of the plumbing and drainage standard, together with the requirements of the network utility, which govern the meter, its assembly and the connection. Containment backflow protection — commonly a dual check valve, or a higher-level device where the hazard requires — is provided at or near the meter to protect the network. Where the meter is in a pit or chamber the access and, where applicable, confined space controls apply. This document coordinates the water-services-standard, network-utility, backflow and access controls so the meter is installed and the drinking water supply is protected.
Hazards identified
9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Water release under pressure during meter installation or replacement
Restricted or confined access and possible atmospheric hazards at the meter location
Public-health hazard where containment protection at the meter is inadequate
Supply or metering error and possible contamination from incorrect connection
Musculoskeletal injury from meter assemblies and fittings
Oxygen deficiency or contaminated atmosphere in a below-ground chamber
Working in water and unstable conditions in the meter pit
Fall and impact injury around open meter locations
Microbial exposure where associated water systems are not managed
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Engineering: install the water meter and assembly to AS/NZS 3500.1 and the network utility's requirements — the meter, isolation valves and connection — with containment backflow protection at or near the meter matched to the hazard.
- 2Engineering: isolate and depressurise the service before installing or replacing the meter, managing the stored pressure so water is not released uncontrolled.
- 3Administrative: where the meter is in a pit or below-ground chamber that meets the confined space definition, apply the confined space entry permit, atmospheric testing and access controls to the confined spaces Code of Practice.
- 4Administrative: verify the connection and metering direction at the meter to prevent cross-connection or incorrect connection.
- 5Engineering: manage water ingress in the meter pit and protect open meter boxes and pits against falls.
- 6Administrative: flush the associated pipework and manage Legionella and stagnation risk so water quality is maintained.
- 7Administrative: confirm the meter installation with the network utility and record the meter details as required.
- 8Administrative: ensure the work is carried out and certified by an appropriately licensed plumber or gasfitter under the relevant state or territory plumbing and gasfitting licensing scheme, with a compliance certificate issued where required.
- 9Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001) before entering any construction workplace, with the plumbing, gasfitting and any confined space competencies and licences required for the work.
- 10Administrative: conduct a daily pre-start toolbox talk covering the day's work, identified hazards, isolations, required PPE and emergency procedures, and record attendance in the consultation section.
- 11Administrative: consult workers and any health and safety representatives on the work and its risks, record the consultation, and keep this document available at the workplace.
- 12PPE: eye protection to AS/NZS 1337.1, hearing protection where required, gloves appropriate to the task, and Class I or Class II safety footwear with protective toecap to AS/NZS 2210.3.
- 13Administrative: review and update this SWMS whenever the work scope changes, after any incident or near miss, when a worker or health and safety representative raises a concern, when new hazards are identified, or at minimum every 12 months.
Applicable Codes of Practice
The water services standard for the installation of the water meter assembly, backflow protection and connection.
The materials, design and performance of the backflow protection provided at the meter.
Atmospheric and access controls where the meter is in a below-ground chamber or pit that meets the confined space definition.
The risk management process and hierarchy of controls applied to the hazards of the work.
Selection, fit testing and use of respiratory protection where dust, fumes or atmospheric hazards require it for the work.
Who this is for
- →Licensed plumbers installing and replacing water meters and assemblies.
- →Plumbing businesses carrying out metering and containment backflow work.
- →Network utility and contractor crews installing meters.
- →Builders and PCBUs requiring a water meter for a connection.
- →PCBU safety managers and supervisors coordinating the metering, backflow and access controls.
What you receive
- ✓Editable Microsoft Word document (.docx) fully compatible with Microsoft Word 2016 and newer, Google Docs, and LibreOffice Writer.
- ✓Title page with editable fields for PCBU name, ABN, site address, project name, principal contractor details, and document revision date.
- ✓Hazard register with the water meter installation hazards — each with a documented consequence, inherent risk rating on a 5x5 likelihood-consequence matrix, hierarchy-of-control measures, and residual risk rating.
- ✓Water meter assembly prompts referencing AS/NZS 3500.1 and network utility requirements, a containment backflow section, a confined-space and pit-access section, and a connection-verification and flushing record.
- ✓Licensing and compliance-certificate prompts for the relevant plumbing and gasfitting scheme, and a respiratory protection selection and fit-test record per AS/NZS 1715 where relevant.
- ✓Worker consultation record per the model WHS Act consultation duty and a worker sign-on register (blank, expandable).
- ✓Applicable legislation and Codes of Practice schedule pre-populated for the model WHS jurisdiction with a state-variance reference table covering the harmonised states, plus Victoria.
- ✓Emergency procedure template and a revision log.
Worked example
A licensed plumber is engaged to install a water meter and assembly for a property connection, in accordance with the network utility's requirements. The meter, isolation valves and connection are installed to AS/NZS 3500.1, with containment backflow protection — a dual check valve, or a higher-level device where the hazard requires — provided at the meter to protect the network. The service is isolated and depressurised before the meter is installed so the stored pressure does not release water uncontrolled. The meter is located in a below-ground chamber, so the access and confined space controls are assessed and applied where the chamber meets the confined space definition, with atmospheric testing before entry. The connection and metering direction are verified to prevent cross-connection, water ingress in the pit is managed, and the open meter box is protected against falls. The associated pipework is flushed so water quality is maintained. The plumber confirms the meter installation with the network utility, records the meter details, issues the compliance certificate, and retains the records.
Related legislation
- Model Work Health and Safety Act — primary duty of care; the duty to consult workers; the reckless-conduct offence; and notifiable-incident provisions, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- Model Work Health and Safety Regulations — Section 291 high risk construction work and the SWMS preparation and review duties, and the excavation and confined space provisions where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- The relevant plumbing and drainage standards AS/NZS 3500 (Parts 0–5) and, for gas, AS/NZS 5601.1:2022, are called up by the state and territory plumbing and gas safety legislation, together with the requirements of the relevant network utility.
- Plumbing and gasfitting work is licensed under each state and territory's plumbing and gasfitting licensing scheme, with compliance certification required for notifiable work.
- Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, with the high risk construction work, excavation and confined space provisions applying in place of the model instruments.
Frequently asked questions
Who installs a water meter?
Water meter installation is licensed plumbing work carried out by a licensed plumber in accordance with the network utility's requirements and AS/NZS 3500.1. The network utility owns the meter and governs its installation, and the plumber installs the assembly, the backflow protection and the connection, confirming the installation with the utility.
Is backflow protection required at the meter?
Yes. Containment backflow protection — commonly a dual check valve, or a higher-level device where the hazard requires — is provided at or near the meter to protect the drinking water network from contamination from the property. The protection is matched to the hazard, and a single check valve alone is not a recognised backflow prevention device for higher hazards.
Are meter pits confined spaces?
A below-ground meter chamber or pit can meet the confined space definition where it is enclosed, may have a contaminated or oxygen-deficient atmosphere, and has restricted entry and egress. In those cases the confined space entry permit, atmospheric testing and access controls apply, and the work may be high risk construction work requiring a SWMS.
How is the service made safe before installing the meter?
The service is isolated and depressurised before the meter is installed or replaced, so the stored pressure in the charged service does not release water uncontrolled. Managing the pressure before the work allows the meter to be installed safely, and the connection and metering direction are verified before the service is recharged.
Is water quality protected during meter installation?
Yes. Containment backflow protection at the meter protects the network, and the associated pipework is flushed and Legionella and stagnation risk managed so water quality is maintained. Protecting the drinking water supply is a core purpose of the backflow protection and the hygiene controls at the meter.