Project to repair damage and prevent water loss in the region

BALLINA Shire Council has activated the state government’s Active Leak Detection Project to help combat water loss and the flow-on effects of additional waste across region.

The project aims to locate and repair hidden leaks in the council network and identify potential leaks on private properties.

Water loss in Ballina Shire’s water network is currently estimated to be around 10 per cent of the total network input.

Contractors from Aqua Analytics will survey 350 kilometres of Ballina’s water main network using specialised listening devices to check mains and fittings.

Council’s manager water and wastewater Scott Turner said the project repaired more than 150 leaks in the public network and identified around 80 on private properties in 2022 and 2024.

“If left unchecked, those private leaks alone could have added about $200,000 to our residents’ annual water bills across the shire,” he said.

“These results show the program is working, but there’s still more to do and more leaks to find.

“By detecting and repairing leaks early, we can protect this precious resource and help residents avoid unexpected high-water bills.”

The equipment used can detect leaks as small as 10 litres per hour with no digging required.

It can also help detect potential leaks on the private property side of the water meter.

If contractors identify a suspected leak, residents will receive a letterbox notice with details on how to arrange repairs with a plumber.

The Active Leak Detection Project is part of the NSW government’s $35.3 million Water Efficiency and Regional Leakage Reduction Program.

More than 23,300km of water mains have been surveyed, more than 3,750 leaks have been found, and 7,885mL of water per year has been saved through repairs carried out by regional councils in the state.