A NSW Government website

Water
Floodplain management

Floodplain harvesting measurement

Floodplain harvesting is the collection, extraction or impoundment of water across a floodplain. Water users must measure and report take as per their works approval.

Federation Farm.

Who is affected

The measurement rules apply to:

  • floodplain harvesting (regulated river) access licence
  • floodplain harvesting (unregulated river) access licence
  • unregulated river access licence, if the water taken is overland flow from a declared floodplain

Measuring floodplain harvesting

Floodplain harvesting needs to be accurately measured to ensure that water take is consistent with the individual licensed volumes and legal limits.

To measure floodplain harvesting, licence holders must install telemetered metering equipment, either on storages or at the point where water is taken.

These approaches to primary metering equipment are known as:

When to start using primary measuring equipment

Landholders with a:

  • floodplain harvesting (regulated river) access licence or
  • floodplain harvesting (unregulated river) access licence

have 12 months from the first time their floodplain harvesting access licence is credited to install primary metering equipment.

If landholders wish to floodplain harvest before this time, they will need to install a secondary metering device.

For water users with an unregulated river access licence taking overland flow water from a declared floodplain, metering equipment must be installed before they take overland flow.

Floodplain measurement equipment requirements and installation

How to become measurement ready

To measure floodplain harvesting, licence holders must install metering equipment that transmits data in near real-time on storages or intake points used for floodplain harvesting.

Who can install metering equipment

You will need to hire a duly qualified person who has the required qualifications, skills or experience to install specific metering equipment.

Information for equipment suppliers

Find out how to be approved as a supplier for point-of-intake or storage metering equipment.

Measurement equipment

Primary metering storage equipment

See a list of compliant primary storage sensors for floodplain harvesting.

Secondary metering equipment

See a list of compliant secondary measurement devices that will allow you to continue to floodplain harvest if your primary meter is faulty.

Connecting water users with suppliers and installers

The Metering and Measurement Virtual Marketplace is an online tool where:

  • Water users can find and contact installers or suppliers in NSW.
  • Installers and suppliers can connect with registered water users needing their services.
Virtual Marketplace

Standards and guidelines to help you understand floodplain harvesting measurement

The following standards and guidelines help landholders prepare for measurement and ensure metering equipment is installed and validated as per the Minister’s specifications:

Assistance

If you require assistance in reading these documents, please contact 1300 081 047 or water.enquiries@dpie.nsw.gov.au