AS4747-2025 tightens rules for smart water meters

Updated Australian standard focuses on validation, installation and data integrity for non-urban water metering systems

15 Jan 2026

Australia’s smart water sector is moving into a more regulated phase as AS4747-2025 comes into force, tightening requirements for how non-urban water meters are designed, installed and commissioned. The revised standard has applied since June 2025 and reflects a shift from rapid adoption of new technology to closer scrutiny of measurement accuracy and reliability.

Rather than introducing new forms of metering, AS4747-2025 tightens expectations around proof that systems are fit for purpose before they are approved for use. The approach aligns with existing regulatory frameworks, including MAF2 requirements and state-based rules, particularly in New South Wales, where telemetry, validation and defensible data are becoming central to compliance.

For utilities, irrigation operators and water-dependent industries, the changes are largely operational. Digital monitoring and automated reporting are now common, but regulators and users continue to focus on whether the underlying data can be trusted. The updated standard places greater emphasis on consistent installation practices and clear commissioning records, reducing uncertainty about whether meters are performing as intended.

Industry participants expect this to support wider uptake of compliant smart metering systems as implementation progresses across states and territories. As standards are increasingly tied to enforcement and auditing regimes, buyers are placing more value on systems that simplify validation and ongoing reporting, rather than on individual devices alone.

The environment favours suppliers able to combine technology with delivery and compliance support. Larger vendors and established integrators are often better placed to provide end-to-end solutions, including documentation and verification. Smaller providers may face pressure to form partnerships or adjust service models as compliance expectations rise, although widespread consolidation is not yet assured.

In the short term, installations may take longer and organisations may need to refine internal processes to demonstrate compliance with AS4747-2025 and local rules. Over time, clearer standards are expected to reduce disputes, strengthen regulatory confidence and make investment decisions easier to justify.

With the new standard now in effect, the emphasis in Australia’s smart water market is shifting from innovation alone to consistency, validation and data that can withstand closer scrutiny.