New Zealand’s water sector is at a turning point. In too many communities, ageing drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems are struggling – leading to leaks, pollution, and hefty repair bills for ratepayers​.

Recognising these challenges, the government has introduced “Local Water Done Well”, a comprehensive reform initiative to upgrade infrastructure, improve service quality, and secure sustainable water management for the future.

This blog post provides an overview of the Local Water Done Well reform and its significance, and explores how councils and water utilities can tackle ageing networks and non-revenue water (NRW) losses. We’ll discuss how to operationalise the new legislation at a tactical level for measurable improvements, innovative financing and contracting models (like performance-based NRW reduction contracts), and highlight successful case studies from abroad. By the end, it will be clear how this reform can drive positive change – and how specialists like Aqua Analytics are ready to assist New Zealand’s councils and utilities in making water services truly “done well.”

Why Water Reform? Ageing Pipes and Mounting Challenges

New Zealand’s water infrastructure has suffered from decades of underinvestment, leaving a legacy of ageing pipes and treatment plants due for renewal. Industry estimates suggest the country needs to invest on the order of NZ$120–185 billion over the next 30 years to upgrade and expand water systems​. Much of the network was laid mid-20th century or earlier, and some pipes in use are over 100 years old​. As pipes reach the end of their life, failures become more frequent – water mains burst, sewers overflow, and service interruptions and leakage levels rise.

In Wellington, for example, the water utility reported that its pipes are “ageing at a faster rate than we can replace them,” with numerous mains in the capital region now over a century old​. The result has been a rash of pipe bursts and leaks: at one point in early 2024, Wellington Water was dealing with over 3,000 leaks, a situation that demanded urgent intervention and funding to bring under control​.

Ageing three waters infrastructure (drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater) doesn’t just inconvenience residents – it carries serious public health and environmental risks. In recent years, thousands of Kiwis have been issued boil-water notices or fallen ill due to substandard drinking water​, and communities have endured sewage on streets and unswimmable beaches when sewer or stormwater systems fail. These issues underscore why reform is needed. As the National Party’s water policy described, the status quo of failing systems has led to “pollution, wastage and massive bills for ratepayers”​.

Simply put, many local councils on their own have struggled to fund and manage the necessary upkeep of their water networks under the old model.

Local Water Done Well emerged as a response to these mounting challenges – aiming to chart a new course that fixes ageing infrastructure while keeping water services under local control. The previous government’s Three Waters Reform (which was later rebranded “Affordable Water”) had proposed shifting assets from councils to four large entities, but it faced public backlash and was repealed in early 2024. In its place, the current government’s Local Water Done Well programme seeks to “address Aotearoa New Zealand’s long-standing water infrastructure challenges”​ and restore confidence that safe, reliable water services will be delivered. Crucially, it strives to do this without stripping local ownership.

Local Water Done Well not only keeps water in local ownership and control but also provides a pathway for significant infrastructure upgrades.

Councils retain ultimate responsibility for water service delivery under Local Water Done Well​ – but with stronger direction, new funding tools, and clear performance standards to ensure we don’t simply revert to the old ways that weren’t working​.

What is “Local Water Done Well”? – Overview and Significance

Local Water Done Well is the central government’s plan to reform how drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services are delivered across New Zealand. Announced in December 2023, it replaces the prior Three Waters reform programme while aiming to achieve similar outcomes in terms of safe drinking water, environmental protection, and sustainable infrastructure​.

The significance of this initiative lies in balancing local control with nationwide standards and support. Under the programme, water assets remain owned by local councils (avoiding the controversial “mega-entities”), but councils are now required to meet stricter water quality rules, invest adequately in infrastructure, and operate under greater regulatory oversight​​.

In short, Local Water Done Well provides a new framework where local ownership is preserved, yet accountability and investment are ramped up to ensure communities get the quality water services they need.

The reform is being implemented in three stages, each with its own legislation​:

The significance of Local Water Done Well is that it creates a pathway to environmental and financial sustainability for quality water services across New Zealand​. It addresses the core problems of the old model by ensuring dedicated funding (through ring-fencing and improved financing options), stronger oversight (through regulators and potential government intervention if needed), and encouraging scale and collaboration (via regional service delivery models) – all while keeping water assets in public hands.

For council water managers, engineers, and policymakers, this reform is a call to action to up their game: to thoroughly understand the condition of their networks, plan upgrades strategically, reduce water loss, and embrace new models that can deliver better outcomes for communities.

Prioritising Ageing Infrastructure – The Role of Condition Assessment

One of the immediate challenges councils face under the new regime is how to tackle ageing water networks with limited resources. With so much infrastructure approaching or past its design life, a critical question is: which pipes, plants or pumps do we fix first?

This is where asset condition assessment and asset management come to the forefront. The Local Water Done Well framework, through the required Water Services Delivery Plans, compels councils to take stock of their assets and provide an assessment of their water infrastructure – how much they need to invest and how they plan to finance and deliver it. In other words, councils must move from reactive patch-ups to proactive, data-driven asset management.

Conducting systematic condition assessments of water supply pipelines, sewer lines, and related facilities allows councils to identify which assets are most deteriorated or high-risk. For example, utilities can grade the state of their underground assets by using tools like CCTV inspections, acoustic leak detection, and pipeline condition assessment techniques.

By knowing where the worst leaks or weakest pipes are, councils can prioritise renewals and repairs that yield the most significant benefit – preventing an imminent water main burst or reducing substantial leakage. Prioritisation is essential given budget constraints; it ensures that every dollar invested goes to the highest-need projects first, delaying the replacement of assets that are still in acceptable condition and focusing on the ones at risk of failure.

New Zealand’s recent experience underscores the importance of this approach. In Wellington, years of underinvestment led to a large backlog of leaking pipes, and it became clear the utility couldn’t replace everything at once. Wellington Water developed a straightforward prioritisation process to ensure repair crews focus on the most significant leaks – those losing tens of litres a minute or posing a risk to supply – while lower-priority drips are deferred until resources allow. This triage approach, guided by data on leak flow rates and pipe criticality, is a tactical form of condition-based prioritisation in its most simple form. It has paid off: by mid-2024, with increased council funding and an accelerated leak repair schedule, Wellington had reduced its annual water loss slightly (from an estimated 44% down to 41% of supply) and cut the number of open leaks by 57% over eight months. While there is still a long way to go, this progress shows how focusing effort on the worst parts of the network first can start to turn the tide on an ageing system.

Across the country, many councils must undertake similar asset condition reviews as part of their Water Services Delivery Plans. These plans must include baseline information about water assets and operations, current performance, and projected capital investment needs. Essentially, each council (or collective of councils) has to present a roadmap for infrastructure renewal and maintenance that meets regulatory standards. Condition assessment is the foundation of that roadmap – you can’t plan to fix what you haven’t measured. By identifying pipes with the highest break frequencies or poorest condition based on advanced non-destructive technology, councils can schedule their renewal programs to prevent failures before they happen. This averts disruptive outages and public health incidents and is cost-effective in the long run. Fixing or replacing a pipe just before it fails (or before leakage gets out of control) is typically cheaper than emergency repairs after a burst and the consequential damage to roads or property.

In summary, the new water reform expects councils to know their assets intimately and plan upgrades wisely. For water engineers, this means ramping up asset condition assessment programs now if they haven’t already. Tools like asset management information systems, GIS mapping of break history, and advanced analytics (predictive modelling of pipe failure based on age/material) can all support this effort. A robust understanding of network condition will inform everything from renewal capital works scheduling to setting realistic budgets and tariffs. It also feeds directly into tackling one of the biggest issues highlighted by Local Water Done Well – New Zealand’s high levels of non-revenue water.

Plugging the Leaks: Confronting New Zealand’s High Non-Revenue Water

One startling symptom of New Zealand’s ageing water networks is the high rate of non-revenue water (NRW) – water that is produced and enters the distribution system but never reaches a paying customer. NRW includes physical losses (leaks and overflows) as well as commercial losses (water that is not billed due to metering inaccuracies or unauthorised use such as theft).

In many New Zealand towns and cities, a significant portion of treated drinking water simply goes missing. How significant? Research published in 2025 showed that New Zealand’s leakage levels average about 22% of water supplied, which is far worse than leading countries like the Netherlands (5% loss) or Germany (6%). In fact, when comparing an internationally recognised metric called the Infrastructure Leakage Index (ILI) – which benchmarks leak performance relative to system size – New Zealand ranked near the bottom among 15 OECD countries, with a median ILI of 2.7 compared to Denmark’s world-class 0.7.

These figures make clear that New Zealand has a major water loss problem by developed-world standards. Literally, tens of billions of litres of treated water are being wasted each year through leaky infrastructure or unmetered usage – water that costs money to treat and pump but yields no revenue.

The consequences of high NRW are multi-faceted. Economically, it’s estimated around $122 million per year is essentially poured down the drain due to the volume of water lost in our systems. Environmentally, that’s wasted water that could have been conserved and extra strain on water sources, especially during dry summers.

Operationally, high leakage can reduce network pressure and firefighting capability and is often a sign of weak spots that could erupt into bigger main breaks. Moreover, if a fifth (or more) of the water supply is non-revenue, it means customers are ultimately paying higher rates to cover the inefficiency – or maintenance is underfunded because a lot of production isn’t billed.

Reducing non-revenue water is, therefore, a key priority for improving both the financial and environmental sustainability of water services. The Local Water Done Well initiative brings NRW into focus by calling for sustainable infrastructure management and benchmarking against best practices.

Encouragingly, some progress is already being made. The recent Public Health Communication Centre briefing notes that places like Wellington have begun to get a handle on their leaks and that nearly 75% of New Zealanders support the use of water metering – a tool that can greatly aid in detecting private-side leaks and managing consumption. Universal metering is one strategy many councils may need to consider: as Wellington Water acknowledged, “we cannot accurately track current water loss without universal metering”.

Many districts historically have had flat-rate water charges or no meters for residential connections; introducing meters not only promotes fairness and conservation but helps pinpoint leaks (for example, a spike in night-time usage at a metered property can indicate a hidden leak on the customer’s side).

Beyond metering, effective NRW reduction strategies include a combination of operational fixes and capital investments:

Notably, reducing NRW has compounding benefits. Every cubic meter of water saved through leak reduction is a cubic meter that doesn’t need to be produced – saving treatment chemicals and energy (and therefore carbon emissions) and freeing up capacity to support growth or resilience in droughts. It’s one of the most cost-effective “new” water supply sources.

In the context of Local Water Done Well, demonstrating progress on NRW will likely be an essential performance indicator for councils. High water loss could draw regulatory scrutiny in the future. 

The bottom line for New Zealand’s water managers is that tackling NRW is no longer optional – it’s essential for financial viability and public trust. The good news is that with modern techniques and a focus from both central and local government, significant reductions are achievable, as our next section on case studies will illustrate.

Conclusion: A Path Forward – Local Solutions, Global Expertise

“Local Water Done Well” represents a pivotal opportunity to put New Zealand’s water services on a path to long-term sustainability. This reform can deliver safer drinking water, healthier environments, and more resilient communities by addressing ageing infrastructure, mandating better asset management, reducing water loss, and enabling smarter financing. Crucially, it achieves this while keeping water assets in the hands of local councils – ensuring communities maintain a say, but with stronger support and oversight from central authorities to ensure water services are financially sustainable and meet modern standards.

The charge is clear for municipal water managers, engineers, and policymakers. Now is the time to assess your infrastructure, set ambitious yet attainable targets (for example, bring that 25% leakage down towards 10% over time, or renew that oldest 5% of your pipes), and use the new tools at your disposal. Develop your Water Services Delivery Plans not as a compliance tick-box, but as a strategic blueprint that will guide investment and operations for the next decade.

  • Engage your communities – they support measures like water metering and expect action to stop leaks.
  • Collaborate with your fellow councils – together, you can achieve economies of scale and tap into more significant expertise. And don’t hesitate to draw on industry partners and international best practices to get the job done.

As the reform progresses, success will be measured in tangible outcomes: fewer boil-water notices, reduced sewage overflows, lower percentage of water lost, and ultimately public confidence that the system is improving.

The government has done its part by creating the framework and increasing funding avenues. The onus is on local bodies and their industry collaborators to deliver results. It’s a significant undertaking that comes with the benefit of global knowledge and modern technology to guide the way.

This is where Aqua Analytics is ready to help. With deep expertise in water network management, non-revenue water reduction, and data-driven decision support, Aqua Analytics is a valuable partner to large and small councils across New Zealand. Whether it’s implementing a district metering program for a metropolitan utility, conducting network-wide asset inspection prioritisation plans for a medium-sized district’s pipe network, or helping a small council set up a smart leak detection and pressure management regime – our team has the experience and tools to turn reform objectives into on-the-ground improvements.

Our approach is to empower local water authorities with the insights and technology they need to make informed decisions and demonstrate progress. In the spirit of Local Water Done Well, we collaborate closely with your staff – transferring knowledge, building local capacity, and ensuring solutions are tailored to your community’s needs.

The challenges of ageing infrastructure and water loss may seem daunting, but they are manageable with the right plan and partners. New Zealand is poised to leap forward in water service delivery – a transformation that will protect public health, support economic growth (through reliable services and housing development), and safeguard precious water resources for future generations. It’s an exciting time to be a water professional in Aotearoa, as we blend local solutions with global expertise to indeed do water “well.”

Councils and utilities should seize the momentum of the Local Water Done Well reforms to kickstart projects that have long been on the wish list – be it that critical pipeline renewal, a comprehensive leak detection sweep, or setting up a regional water consortium for shared strength. With supportive legislation, better financing, and proven strategies at hand, there are no excuses for delay. Let’s turn policy into performance.

Contact us to learn more about how we can assist your utility or council navigate these reforms and achieve tangible water savings and service improvements. The journey to a better water future is underway – let’s get it done, and done well.

Gippsland Water has appointed Aqua Analytics to deliver its first-ever structured leak detection program. This innovative initiative underscores Gippsland Water’s commitment to proactively tackling water loss and enhancing the efficiency of its network, setting a new benchmark for water management in the region.

The program will see Aqua Analytics leverage advanced acoustic technology alongside our expert teams to identify and address leaks throughout the water network. By targeting non-revenue water (NRW) loss, this partnership aims to secure multiple long-term benefits for the Gippsland community, including:

  • Improved Network Efficiency: Proactive leak detection will enable Gippsland Water to optimise resource management and reduce operational costs.
  • Enhanced Environmental Sustainability: Minimising water loss will conserve vital water resources, ensuring their availability for future generations.
  • Increased Customer Satisfaction: A more reliable and efficient water network means better service delivery and peace of mind for customers.

Gippsland Water Managing Director, Sarah Cumming, said the program would help minimise water losses and keep customer bills down.  

“Water is a precious resource and we want to make sure we’re doing all we can to conserve it,” Ms Cumming said.   

“This is the first time we’ve used this technology on a large scale, and we’re excited to see the results it will bring for our team and our customers. If it’s successful, we hope to use it in other parts of our service area too.  

“Our team will fix any leaks we find from the meter back to the main and they’ll also endeavour to let customers know if we suspect there may be a water leak on their property.”  

The project is scheduled for an initial term of two years, with an option to extend for an additional two years.

About Gippsland Water

Gippsland Water is a Victorian Government-owned retail water corporation serving over 68,800 customers across Gippsland, Australia. Dedicated to providing reliable water and sewerage services, Gippsland Water plays a vital role in supporting the community’s health, economy, and environment.

Every year on December 4, World Water Loss Day highlights the urgent global issue of water loss within supply networks. 

Established to raise awareness and drive action, this day is dedicated to addressing the inefficiencies that result in billions of litres of water being wasted daily through leaks, theft, and unmetered use. 

World Water Loss Day also serves as a platform for sharing innovations, best practices, and collaborative solutions that can reduce water loss and enhance sustainable water management.

At Aqua Analytics, we are committed to supporting these efforts by providing advanced solutions to optimise water networks, reduce inefficiencies, and safeguard this precious resource for future generations.

Why World Water Loss Day Matters

Water loss is a critical global issue, with far-reaching consequences for resources, communities, and the environment. According to a study by Liemberger and Wyatt (2019), the global volume of non-revenue water (NRW) — water lost through leaks, theft, or unmetered use — is estimated at 346 million cubic metres per day.

Essentially, for every 10 litres of water sent into the network, about 3 litres are wasted and never used. The economic cost of this lost water amounts to USD $39 billion annually.

The implications of this are significant. If just one-third of global NRW were saved, it would provide enough water to meet the daily needs of 800 million people. This highlights the immense potential for improvement in water supply systems.

Beyond economic losses, water wastage exacerbates challenges in regions already grappling with water scarcity. The growing emphasis on the connection between water loss and carbon emissions reflects heightened awareness and increased funding for water projects. World Water Loss Day shines a spotlight on all these issues, urging collective action to reduce waste and ensure sustainable access to water for all.

Get involved in World Water Loss Day by using #WorldWaterLossDay in your social media posts, or by posting on the IWA Water Loss Specialist Group LinkedIn Page.

Why Collective Action is the Best Way to Combat Water Loss

Addressing water loss requires collective action from governments, utilities, communities and the private sector. Collaboration strengthens efforts, enabling more comprehensive and sustainable solutions to this global challenge. Here’s how collaborative action is the best way to combat water loss:

By combining the efforts of all stakeholders, we help create unified strategies that not only reduce water loss but also secure sustainable water supplies for future generations.

Practical Steps to Reduce Water Loss in Your Network

Reducing water loss is essential for protecting resources and ensuring efficient water supply. Here are some proven strategies that utilities and organisations can implement:

At Aqua Analytics, we specialise in water loss reduction and offer comprehensive NRW consulting services. Our team collaborates closely with clients to design effective strategies, leveraging cutting-edge technology and expert insights. By prioritising efficiency and precision, we help utilities minimise non-revenue water, lower operational costs, and promote sustainability.

It’s Time to Take Action to Secure Our Water Future

World Water Loss Day serves as a vital reminder of the challenges posed by water loss and the importance of collective action to address them. 

With nearly one-third of the water in distribution systems wasted globally, the need for innovative solutions, collaborative efforts, and public awareness has never been more critical.

By adopting advanced technologies, fostering partnerships, and engaging communities, we can make meaningful progress in reducing water loss. 

This not only ensures more efficient use of resources but also helps protect the environment and secure water for future generations.

This World Water Loss Day, let’s commit to taking action. 

Whether you’re a utility professional, policymaker, or concerned member of your local community, your efforts can contribute to building a sustainable water future. 

Reach out to Aqua Analytics to explore how our solutions can support your water loss reduction goals. 

Together, we can make a difference.

Aqua Analytics, a leading provider of water network intelligence solutions, today announced it has been awarded a two-year asset maintenance contract extension with Yarra Valley Water, one of Australia’s largest water corporations. 

The extension follows three years of successful collaboration in proactive leak detection and associated services.

Under the extended agreement, Aqua Analytics will continue to deploy its expertise and leakage management technologies to minimise water loss across Yarra Valley Water’s vast distribution network, spanning 4,000 square kilometres and over 10,000 kilometres of water mains.

Using planned inspections and real-time network monitoring, Aqua Analytics will promptly identify and report leaks, facilitating swift repairs through Yarra Valley Water’s integrated asset management system.

“We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with Yarra Valley Water and contribute to their ongoing commitment to water sustainability,” said Hugh Chapman, Managing Director of Aqua Analytics.

“The positive outcomes of our initial collaboration underscore our shared mission to deliver reliable and sustainable water services to Yarra Valley Water’s customers”.

Aqua Analytics’ innovative approach to network leak detection includes the use of acoustic equipment, sensors and data analytics to optimise specialist field teams. This has significantly improved leak identification for Yarra Valley Water, benefiting the environment and the more than 2 million people who rely on their services daily.

Yarra Valley Water Acting General Manager Service Futures Raghu Bharadwaj said Aqua Analytics had consistently proven their commitment to securing water resources for future generations.

“We’re really excited to expand our partnership with Aqua Analytics, using their advanced AI data loggers to enhance our water management capabilities.”

 “Their tailored approach not only optimises our operational efficiency, but also aligns perfectly with our customer commitment to deliver reliable and timely services, as outlined in our price submission.”

“By integrating Aqua Analytics’ technology into our infrastructure, we’re better equipped to proactively identify and resolve leaks quickly, ensuring better outcomes for our customers, the community, and environment,” Mr Bharadwaj said.

 

About Aqua Analytics

Aqua Analytics is a specialist water network intelligence provider dedicated to helping water utilities optimise their operations and reduce water loss. With offices throughout Australia and New Zealand, Aqua Analytics delivers water network management solutions and expert support to a growing client base across the region.

About Yarra Valley Water

Yarra Valley Water is one of Australia’s largest water utilities, with a service area covering 4,000 square kilometres. Every day, more than 2 million people and over 61,000 businesses rely on its water and sewerage services. 

The corporation manages $6 billion worth of infrastructure, including a network of over 21,500 kilometres of water, recycled water and sewer mains. Yarra Valley Water’s purpose is to support the health and wellbeing of its customers and create a brighter future for communities and the natural environment.

Australia’s major telecommunications providers are shutting down their 3G networks throughout 2024. This has critical implications for water utilities and councils reliant on 3G-connected smart devices.

If your water infrastructure includes pressure loggers, PRV controllers, acoustic loggers, meter pulse loggers, or other remote monitoring systems, urgent action is needed. Aqua Analytics partners with water utilities and councils to seamlessly transition your connected water assets to the latest cellular protocols (Cat-M1, NB-IoT, and 5G).

When Is The 3G Network Shutting Down?

Which Water Assets Are Affected by the 3G Shutdown?

The following legacy devices often rely on 3G and may be rendered obsolete if not upgraded:

What Happens if You Don’t Upgrade?

The Benefits of Upgrading to Cat-M1, NB-IoT, and 5G

Aqua Analytics: Your Partner in the Transition

We understand the water industry’s unique challenges. Our process is designed for minimal disruption:

Don’t Let the 3G Sunset Disrupt Your Operations

Proactive action is crucial. Contact Aqua Analytics today for a free infrastructure assessment. We’ll help you navigate the 3G sunset and ensure your water utility stays ahead of the curve.

Airports are intricate hubs of activity, relying on a vast infrastructure network to facilitate smooth operations. Among the critical components of this infrastructure that are often forgotten about are buried water pipelines. These pipelines transport water for various purposes, such as drinking, fire suppression, irrigation, and industrial processes. Efficient management of these pipelines is paramount to ensuring uninterrupted water supply, reducing water loss, and achieving sustainability goals.

In this blog post, we’ll delve into the strategies and technologies that can help airports effectively manage their buried water pipelines.

Understanding the Importance of Water Pipelines in Airports

Water plays a pivotal role in airports, and here’s why:

The Challenge of Buried Water Pipelines

Buried water pipelines present specific challenges in an airport environment:

Strategies for Effective Water Pipeline Management in Airports

Properly managing buried water pipelines is crucial for airports to ensure reliable water supply while minimising costs and environmental impact. Here are some key strategies:

1. Conducting a Comprehensive Water Audit

A water audit is the first step towards efficient water management. It involves a thorough assessment of:

2. Implementing Smart Infrastructure Software

Smart water network software empowers airports with real-time awareness of their water networks. This software can:

3. Deployment of Acoustic Loggers

Acoustic loggers are valuable for proactive real-time leak detection, particularly during off-peak hours.

4. Undertaking Pipeline Condition Assessments

Regular pipeline condition assessments provide critical information about buried pipelines’ structural integrity and remaining lifespan.

Additional Strategies and Considerations

Besides the strategies above, here are some additional practices airports can adopt:

The Benefits of Proactive Water Pipeline Management

Conclusion: Reduce Leaks in Airport Precincts

Managing buried water pipelines within airport precincts requires a strategic and proactive approach. By incorporating the strategies outlined in this blog post – water audits, smart water infrastructure, leak detection technologies, condition assessments, and other best practices – airports can safeguard their water resources, improve operational efficiency, and embrace sustainability.

Contact us today for a free consultation on how Aqua Analytics can help you manage your buried assets throughout your airport precinct.

Aqua Analytics, a company dedicated to helping water utilities reduce non-revenue water and manage leakage, is celebrating a successful year with a unique twist: Leak Lager.

This limited edition brew, crafted using water identified as leakage by Aqua’s skilled teams, serves as a toast to the impressive 11 billion litres saved and 3,500 leaks plugged by Aqua in 2023 across Australia and New Zealand.

Beyond being a celebratory drink, Leak Lager is a conversation starter.

Each can sent to clients and suppliers is a tangible reminder of the power of sustainability, innovation, and unconventional thinking. It highlights the positive impact that can be achieved through collaboration and commitment to solving critical water challenges.

“Leak Lager is more than just a beer,” says Chris Medcalf, Operations Manager at Aqua Analytics. “It is a toast to our achievements, but also a challenge to ourselves and the industry to push even further and ensure a sustainable water future for all.”

Aqua Analytics’ mission to reduce water network leakage across Australia and New Zealand goes beyond Leak Lager.

The company utilises best-in-class methodologies and expertise to help water utilities pinpoint and fix leaks, saving millions of litres of water each year. This not only benefits the environment but also reduces utilities’ costs and assists in the drive towards net zero carbon emissions.

Reducing Leakage in Regional NSW

The NSW Government’s $4.4 million Active Leak Detection Project is marching into 15 more councils for the next stage of work over the summer months to deliver water savings in regional communities using state-of-the-art technology.

With many parts of the state already experiencing drought conditions, reducing water loss is critical. $1 million has been injected into the project that has already surveyed more than 12,300kms of mains. This has saved 5.3 billion litres of water or the equivalent of 2,120 Olympic-sized swimming pools so far across 54 local government areas.

Specialist teams use cutting-edge equipment, including leak noise loggers, electronic listening sticks, ground microphones, and leak noise correlators to detect and pinpoint leaks before reporting them to the local council for repair. This ensures a more robust and efficient water network.

Eurobodalla Shire, Wingecarribee Shire, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, Walgett Shire, Narrabri Shire, Berwarrina Shire, Warren Shire, Muswellbrook Shire, Tweed Shire, Cowra Shire, MidCoast, Ballina Shire, Central Darling Shire, Murray River and Armidale Regional Councils are having their pipes and valves inspected between now and March 2024.

Water Loss Reduction Funding in New South Wales

The additional funding is part of the NSW Government’s $12.5 million Regional Leakage Reduction Program, which last year provided $1.3 million worth of grants to 13 local water utilities to assist them with staff training, pressure management, leakage control, and metering.

Quotes attributed to Acting Minister for Water, Steve Whan:

“The Minns Labor government has located more than 2500 water leaks in network infrastructure across the state, and 700 leaks in the supply for individual customers’ properties which is a strong reminder that there is no room for complacency when it comes to looking after our more precious natural resource.

“With another drought on the horizon, we can’t be a one trick pony for water management and our innovative program is designed to take a holistic approach to boosting water efficiency across our regions.

“Our expert leak detection teams play a key role in ensuring we’re counting every drop and making sure our communities are ready for when the next dry spell occurs.”

For more information, visit: Regional Leakage Reduction Program

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