TasWater estimates 29 per cent of state’s drinking water unaccounted for in 2021-22, new report says

Tasmania’s water and sewerage utility is losing huge volumes of drinking water every year, as it scrambles to address leaking infrastructure and improve its water metering and accounting. How much is being lost >

Bryn Estyn Water Treatment Plant. Picture: Supplied/TasWater.

Almost a third of Tasmania’s drinking water is going unaccounted for, according to a new report laying bare the inefficiencies plaguing the state’s water and sewerage utility.

Released on Friday, the Tasmanian Economic Regulator’s Report on the State of the Tasmanian Water and Sewerage Industry found an estimated 29 per cent of treated water produced by TasWater was not supplied to customers in 2021-22 – an increase of 4 per cent on the previous year.

Regulator, Joe Dimasi, has identified the issue as TasWater’s chief challenge, saying the 29 per cent figure included 308 litres of water lost per connection, per day.

TasWater estimates 29 per cent of its drinking water is going unaccounted for.

“The Tasmanian Economic Regulator continues to be concerned by the very high percentage of treated water that is not supplied to TasWater’s customers,” the report said.

“Whilst the level of unaccounted for water continues to reflect inefficiencies in TasWater’s water systems, TasWater has committed to addressing this issue and Tasmanian Economic Regulator is hopeful that the delivery of TasWater’s Non-Revenue Water Reduction Strategy will reduce water losses over the coming years.”

The strategy is aimed at minimising water loss in TasWater’s networks by addressing leakage from infrastructure, pressure management, water metering and accounting.

TasWater CEO George Theo acknowledged that unaccounted for water was an “ongoing issue”.

TasWater CEO George Theo. Picture: Supplied

“We are currently delivering the largest capital upgrade program in TasWater’s history, investing $1.8bn in essential water and sewerage infrastructure. Recent water main improvement renewal includes projects in Bellerive, Wesley Vale and Burnie,” Mr Theo saidin a statement.

“We have also been implementing active leakage management through the rollout of more than 250 flow meters as part of our District Metered Areas project. This project identifies leaks that don’t come to surface so that we can undertake repairs across our extensive water network of 6,545km.”

Mr Theo said the results from the report were generally “pleasing” but noted there was “more to do and we are committed to improving outcomes for our customers, communities and the environment”.

The regulator said TasWater continued to meet its performance targets overall, with 100 per cent of its reticulated water customers receiving water that met microbiological compliance standards for the fourth year in a row.

Risdon Brook Dam at Risdon Vale. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

TasWater continued to perform at or very close to effluent treatment standards for its sewerage systems and the reuse of biosolids produced at treatment plants. But the regulator highlighted that liquid effluent reuse was the lowest levels since 2013, with only 7.7 per cent being reused.

The utility’s call centre experienced almost a 12 per cent increase in the number of customer complaints received, with the most common reason being water quality, including taste, colour and odour.

Prices for water and sewerage services increased by 3.5 per cent in 2021-22 after being frozen for three years to offer relief to customers amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The typical annual water and sewerage bill for a residential customer was $1232, based on an average consumption of 178 kilolitres of water. The regulator said Tasmanian households paid slightly more than their interstate counterparts “based on an illustrative consumption of 200 kilolitres of water per year”.

TASWATER STATS (2021-22):

– 218,581 water customers

– Typical household bill $1232

– Average household water use 178 kL

– 5201 residential customers repaying a debt

– Average debt of residential customers $1312

– 3.5 per cent price increase in 2021-22

– 29 per cent of all potable water was unaccounted for, including water losses of 308 litres/connection/day

Originally published as TasWater estimates 29 per cent of state’s drinking water unaccounted for in 2021-22, new report says