Leaky pipes: Where is the 15 per cent of water unaccounted for in Ballina?

One of the ways to identify where the leaks are, and to minimise them, is a reduction in the water pressure delivered to residents.

Ballina Shire Council has been considering the cause of water use that is not accounted for.

About 15 per cent of the water in the Ballina Shire is lost, unaccounted for, due to leaky pipes.

Between January and March 2021, the council estimated 15.6 per cent of the water it received became unaccounted for or “non-revenue water”.

In the last four years, according to Ballina Shire Council data, the amount of unaccounted water has varied between 14 and 17 per cent.

One of the measures used to identify where the leaks are, and to minimise the losses, is a possible reduction in water pressure delivered to residents.

Not all water is lost due to leaky pipes, some of it, according to council documents, is water extracted by Fire and Rescue or similar services, as hydrants do not have meters to keep track of how much water is used.

There is also the possibility of water theft, specially in drought periods, but the council has estimated this to be “only a very small component of the loss”.

Another issue identified by the council is inaccurate water meters.

What has been done

There are twelve pressure management and flow monitoring zones in the council’s water supply network.

Work is currently underway to allow the accurate collection of information and it is anticipated that the physical work will be completed by the end of June 2022.

The West Ballina pressure management zone has been selected as the pilot zone for the water loss reduction program. The zone is currently operating with a nominal pressure reduction at night time, between 11pm and 6am.

The results of this work will be used to create a checklist for zone operation, and a program of work to be rolled out across the network.

The council is also undergoing an annual water main renewal program to minimise water main bursts.

In regards to meter replacement, an external contractor was engaged by council to support the replacement program, with an additional 256 meters replaced since contract commencement in April 2021.

Not all unaccounted water is lost due to leaky pipes, some is used by emergency services and some is stolen.

What will happen next

The priorities for the water loss reduction program are:

(Water Loss Program timetable for 2021/22)

• Completion of operational improvements in West Ballina zone by August 2021
• Testing of water loss reduction actions in West Ballina by December 2021
• Water meter replacement (Rolling program)
• Water main renewal (Rolling program)
• Rous County Council smart metering project, commencing July 2021
• Rollout of operational improvements across network from June 2022
• Rollout of water loss reduction actions across network, from June 2023

If the council confirms water pressure reduction will be required to a level that will impact customers, community consultation will be required.

Ballina Shire Council approved the Water Loss Program timetable for 2021/22.

Once the West Ballina Pressure Management Zone Water Loss Reduction pilot project is complete, council will use the outcomes to prepare a shire-wide strategic plan for water loss management.