Leak Check Program FAQs Adelaide River, Pine Creek and Batchelor

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1 Leak Check Program FAQs Adelaide River, Pine Creek and Batchelor Overview What is the Leak Check Program? Power and Water is checking for leaks in Adelaide River, Batchelor and Pine Creek to help residents and businesses save water and money - and to find out more about water waste through leaks in regional areas of the Northern Territory. The program has two components: 1. Identifying leaks at residential and commercial water meters 2. Providing information to help you find and fix leaks Why are you conducting the Leak Check Program? Through a Community Leak Program in Darwin and Katherine in 2017, Power and Water identified that around litres of water per year is being wasted through leaks in the average home that s about $1000 per year from the hip pocket! Water loss data in regional towns in the Top End is likely to be similar. By conducting the Leak Check Program, Power and Water will be able to learn more. Finding and fixing leaks is a great way for residents and businesses to save water and money. For Power and Water, taking simple, sensible steps to reduce water wastage is an efficient means of securing town water supplies, particularly in smaller towns where the costs of increasing water supply capacity are usually very high. What are the aims of the Leak Program? 1. To inform residents and business owners of potential leaks within their properties. 2. To show residents and business owners how to read their own meters to test for leaks. 3. To increase awareness of the impacts leaks can have on households, businesses and water supplies. 4. To reduce water wastage and improve water supply security. 5. To collect valuable data on water loss patterns in regional towns in the Top End to enable us to further plan for water supply security Where will you be checking meters? Living Water Smart will be conducting meter leak checks at all residential and business properties connected to the mains drinking (potable) water supply. About the Leak Checks How will I know the Leak Checker has been to my property? You will receive a Leak Check card in your letterbox or at your business. It will indicate whether or not a leak has been found.

2 Why do you have access to my property? In the same way Power and Water has access to read your water meter for billing, Leak Checkers will have access to your meter to conduct a leak check. If a leak is found we can help you save both water and money. If we are unable to access your meter, we will leave a card advising you of this along with simple instructions about how you can conduct a leak check yourself. Please note that we don t enter properties or read meters in the following circumstances: The gate to access the property is closed. There is a dog on the property and the Leak Checker does not feel safe entering. The meter is obstructed, buried or inaccessible. Your meter is locked and we do not have access to the Power and Water key. How do you tell if I have a leak? Leak Checkers will spend around 2-3 minutes at your water meter. They will take a reading of the numbers on the meter dial, check for movement, and if movement is identified wait a few minutes and take another reading. If there was any movement of the dial you may have a leak. Our Leak Checkers will leave a card advising you of what they found, and if you have a suspected leak, what to do next. If someone is home or at your business at the time of your leak check, movement on the water meter dial might be due to water use in the home or business at that time. You are encouraged to conduct your own 5 minute leak check to confirm the findings of the Leak Checker. What happens after you check my meter? Leak Checkers will leave a card in your letterbox or at your business indicating whether you have a suspected leak. The card will include instructions on the next steps you can take and who to contact to find out more. What do I do if the Leak Checkers find a suspected leak? If you have a suspected leak it makes sense to take steps to find and fix it so you stop wasting your water which is costing you money. There are a few actions you can take: Conduct the 3-Step Leak Check to confirm the leak (see below to learn how to conduct the 3-Step Leak Check). Try to find the location of the leak yourself (see below for some tell-tale signs). Contact a local plumber to organise a quote to fix your leak. What if the Leak Checkers don t find a leak? Well done! The card left in your letterbox or at your business will show you how you can check for leaks yourself using the 3-Step Leak Check. Set yourself a reminder to check for leaks regularly, every few months is ideal, maybe when you get your water or power bill? I have been left a card that says that I don t have a leak, but I believe I do. Sometimes a small leak like a dripping tap or running toilet can be hard to detect at the water meter. If you know you have a leak, it s a good idea to contact a plumber to get a quote to find and fix it. Or you could try to find it yourself see below for some tips on finding leaks. Page 2 of 5

3 How do I know if the reported leak is my responsibility, and not Power and Water s? If the leak is flowing through your meter, it is being charged to your account and you are responsible. If you find a leak on the other side of your meter call You can also report a leak on the Power and Water website or smartphone app. I was home (or at my business) using water when you came to check my meter. How do you tell the difference between a leak and just normal water use? Leak checkers have information about the average water use for common household or business activities for taps, toilets, showers, washing machines, dishwashers, irrigation etc. If the flow rate is outside of these parameters you will be advised that you may have a suspected leak on a card we leave in your letterbox or at your business, or they will advise that they were unable to conduct the test as water was being used and they will leave a card advising you what to do next. How do I conduct the 3-Step Leak Check to look for leaks myself? A meter leak check is an easy DIY test you can do at any time. Aim to check for leaks regularly. Set yourself a reminder, such as when your bill arrives. 1. Make sure that there is no water being used in your home or business. 2. Go to your water meter and watch for any movement on the dial. Smaller leaks will take longer to show. 3. Did your meter move? Yes. No. Contact a plumber to get a quote to find and fix your leak. Or try to find the leak yourself it might be an easy fix, such as a dripping tap. Fantastic! Check for leaks regularly to make sure it stays this way. What signs should I look out for when trying to find the location of a leak? You can be your own leak detective! In the garden: Check for wet patches and green spots (especially on your lawn). Check your irrigation system for popped off drippers, split or broken joiners and disconnections every month. Indoors: Check for dripping taps and showerheads. Toilets - add a few drops of food dye into the cistern and leave the toilet for one hour without flushing. If there is dye in the bowl you have a leak. Page 3 of 5

4 What if I m a rental tenant and I m told I have a leak? You should let your property manager/landlord know as soon as possible by following the reporting of issues process identified in your tenancy agreement. If you are paying for water use at the property, it is in your best interest to get any leaks fixed as soon as possible as you will be the person being charged for the water use. If you don t pay for water, letting your landlord know of the leak is the responsible thing to do both for the environment and your landlord! Can I get a rebate to fix a leak, like Darwin and Katherine residents? The Leak Check Program in Adelaide River, Batchelor and Pine Creek is a pilot project aimed at researching the prevalence of water leaks in regional areas in the Top End. At this stage rebates are not available for fixing a leak. More Information Where can I find more information about the Leak Program? Visit powerwater.com.au/leaks or call (08) Page 4 of 5

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