All Flemish households must have a digital water meter by 2030

By 2030, every household in Flanders must have a digital water meter. Water companies are not allowed to pass the costs on to users. The water meters are therefore issued ten years ahead of schedule.

The Flemish government has agreed to a proposal from Minister Demir of the Environment. By 2030, every household in Flanders must have a meter with which water consumption can be read digitally. Water suppliers can read the readings from a distance, and users can better keep track of their consumption themselves. The proposal still has to be submitted to the Council of State.

The N-VA, which introduced the bill, says digital meters have several advantages. These are advantages in addition to the fact that people are more aware of their drinking water consumption. This makes it easier for homeowners to detect water loss and pipe leaks. Also less incorrect recordings are made of the water levels. Water suppliers may also be able to install measuring equipment to read the quality of the drinking water.

The bill states that by 2030 every household in Flanders must have such a meter. Some water companies used a date of 2040 until before. The law stipulates that suppliers must bear the costs themselves. They are therefore not allowed to pass it on to customers. Various suppliers have already started installing in Flanders. Water-Link is therefore the furthest; the company had installed 100,000 of them by July.