Challenge
Regional councils across New South Wales face the persistent challenge of high non-revenue water (NRW) volumes. Aging infrastructure, limited resources, and the vast geographical scale of their networks often lead to significant water loss, impacting operational budgets and the long-term sustainability of water supplies. A cohesive, multi-year strategy for water loss reduction was required to help multiple councils not only find leaks but also build the asset intelligence needed for proactive network management.
Solution and Methodology
Following the successful completion of a three-year project, Aqua Analytics was awarded a new two-year extension, which brings our total continuous involvement in regional NSW water loss management to five years.
This strategic initiative is designed to empower over 60 councils with the tools and data necessary to significantly reduce leakage and improve overall network efficiency. The trust and proven delivery over the past three years made Aqua Analytics the logical choice to continue this critical work.
- Expert Field Teams: Our skilled technicians are deployed to remote towns and communities across NSW, utilizing advanced acoustic equipment to meticulously survey over 8,000 km of reticulation water mains over the project's total duration.
- Comprehensive Data Collection: The project captures more than just leak locations. We deliver a layer of enhanced asset intelligence, identifying and reporting on missing fittings, meters not registering (apparent losses), and other network defects.
- GIS Development & Reporting: We provide outstanding, quick reporting, including the development of GIS data from the field. This geospatial expertise is crucial for working with diverse data formats from various councils, ensuring that all findings are easily integrated into their asset management systems for prompt action.
Aqua Analytics' Contribution
Aqua Analytics has had a considerable impact on the Active Leak Detection Project, a key part of the NSW Government’s $35.3 million Water Efficiency and Regional Leakage Reduction Program.
Our efforts, which are estimated to have contributed 65% to the project, have allowed the proactive active leak detection on 23,325 km of water mains, leading to the discovery of over 3,750 leaks. The collaborative work with regional councils has resulted in the repair of leaks that were wasting 7,885 ML of water per year.
Conclusion
This multi-year partnership has proven to be a cornerstone for water loss reduction in regional New South Wales. The award of the new two-year project is a powerful testament to the success of the initial three-year engagement.
By providing expert field teams, rapid reporting, and critical asset intelligence, Aqua Analytics has helped dozens of councils move beyond reactive maintenance.
This continuous five-year involvement, which makes Aqua Analytics the only provider in all phases of the program, positions us as a key partner in building more resilient and sustainable water networks for councils across Australia and New Zealand. As these asset owners continue to prioritise water loss management, this project serves as a model for how comprehensive, data-driven strategies can deliver lasting results and ensure water security for communities across the region.
