The next stage of the $12.5 million Regional Leakage Reduction Program is commencing, reaffirming the New South Government’s commitment to cutting down on wasted water and saving billions of litres of water.
New South Wales Minister for Lands and Water, Kevin Anderson, said the first stage involved leak detection work across 22 Local Government Areas, with experts locating a staggering 2.7 billion litres of water leaking from network pipes each year.
“We’re charging ahead with our water efficiency and conservation work off the back of incredible results from Stage One,” Mr Anderson said.
“Using cutting-edge technology, such as high-powered listening devices, our teams pinpoint exactly where leaks are in pipes, meters and valves so they can be patched up to significantly boost water security for regional communities.
“Fixing leaky pipes and damaged infrastructure not only preserves water and improves reliability, but it also saves ratepayers hundreds of thousands of dollars every year in pumping and treatment costs.”
Clarence Valley Council, Mid-Western Regional Council, Narromine Shire Council, Tweed Shire Council and two Indigenous communities have signed up for Stage Two of the program, and another 20 are expected to join.
During Stage One, officers and technicians from the Regional Network Leakage Detection Project surveyed more than 2,700km of water mains and found more than 930 leaks.
“A lot of these leaks have already been repaired, preventing more than 800 million litres of water from being lost each year,” Mr Anderson said.
“We’re working with local water utilities to survey a further 4,500km of pipeline before June 2023 and a similar amount the following year, with the aim of saving up to 7.5 billion litres of water by the end of 2024. That equates to millions of dollars in pumping and treatment savings for councils.
“Just because we’ve had rain, it doesn’t mean we can relax when it comes to water security. Drought will come again, and the recent flooding has put many storage areas at risk of contamination. Every drop of clean water counts and that’s why the State Government has thrown its support behind this vital project.”
The Regional Network Leakage Detection Project is part of the New South Wales Government’s three-year, $12.5 million Regional Leakage Reduction Program, a key component of a statewide Water Efficiency Framework which falls under the NSW Water Strategy.
Several Indigenous communities with suspected network leakage have also been included under the Aboriginal Community Water & Sewerage Program (ACWSP).
Featured image: $12.5 million Regional Leakage Reduction Program to save billions of litres of water. Image: New South Wales Government.
