We don’t think much about turning on the tap. Clean water arrives every day without much fuss. But beneath our streets, parks and driveways, hundreds of kilometres of pipes quietly keep the shire flowing. Crews are constantly working to find hidden leaks before they become bigger problems.
As part of a NSW Government Active Leak Detection program, specialist contractors have been travelling the shire using sonic equipment to listen for leaks underground.
Our water network is huge – there’s around 600 kilometres of reticulated pipe that connects to more than 20,000 properties. We also have roughly 300 kilometres of trunk main, which is the big stuff that connects reservoirs and towns.
After inspecting the first half of the network, 44 leaks were uncovered which added up to about 100 litres of water lost every minute. That’s a backyard swimming pool a day.
Most of the leaks detected have been on our side of the network, with crews working through repairs. A smaller number were found on private properties, where we contact residents to fix.
The main aim of the leak detection work is to save water. Every litre lost through leaks is treated water that has already cost time, energy and money to produce.
Unlike electricity networks, water systems don’t have individual live monitoring at every property.
We do rely on residents reporting unusual water pooling or soggy ground. Our bulk flow meters are good at letting us know if there’s a serious issue – like a large water break.
What our flow meters can’t pick up are the smaller leaks – the dripping tap, leaking toilet or faulty appliance quietly wasting water day after day. Those little leaks still pass through your water meter, meaning they can quietly add to your water bill over time.
Little leaks might not seem like a big deal at first, but they do add up. A constantly running toilet can waste thousands of litres of water without anyone noticing. Our water billing team does their bit to help.
The team analyses residents’ water meter readings over six weeks, three times a year. They’re pretty good at spotting unusual changes in water use, often contacting residents to flag there could be a leak worth checking out.
If you’re conscious about water and the cost of it, it’s always a good habit to check your water meter when no water is being used, like overnight. If the reading changes, there’s a good chance water is escaping somewhere.
Leaks are a normal part of any water network and new technology is making them easier to find. We’re currently trialling smart water meters in Nelligen, allowing residents to keep a closer eye on their water use while giving us instant access to usage data. The plan is to gradually roll the technology out across the shire in the coming years.
Check out our webpage for tips on how to detect leaks around your property before they become bigger problems.
- This news item was first published in Council’s printed newsletter for residents, Living in Eurobodalla – delivered to the shire’s 26,000 households.
