Gympie Regional Council has taken out top honours at the 2026 Water Industry Operations Association of Australia Water Main Tapping Competition.
Gympie Regional Council’s Ross Watt and Nick Niedermeyer stopped the clock at 1 minute and 33 seconds to be crowned Queensland champions against Gold Coast City Council. The runners-up were initially in front with a time of 1 minute and 27 seconds before a minimal leak caused a 10-second penalty.
The Water Main Tapping Competition is an industry event that tests the precision, speed and technical expertise of operational crews who carry out live water main connections, a critical task that allows new services to be connected without shutting down water supply to customers.
Teams of two are required to safely complete a live tap on a pressurised 100mm pipe, installing all fittings to industry standards under strict rules and safety requirements. Penalty times are applied for leaks, faults or incomplete installations, making accuracy just as important as speed.
The WIOA Water Main Tapping Competition was first introduced in the late 1980s and has evolved into a national and international event, with Australian state winners progressing to compete nationally and, ultimately, internationally against New Zealand.
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