Federation Council has successfully completed a significant water conservation initiative, partnering with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) to detect and address water leaks across the region. This proactive project, undertaken in May 2025, focused on the Council-managed water supply areas of Corowa, Mulwala, and Howlong.
Through diligent work by contractors, a total of 32 leaks were successfully identified. An analysis revealed that 9 of these leaks were located on the customer's side of the water meter, while a significant 23 were found on the water main side. These 23 main-side leaks represent 'non-revenue water' – treated water that does not reach customers – and their identification is crucial for improving the efficiency of water treatment operations.
The detected leaks varied in size, from a small 0.5 litres per minute (L/min) to a substantial 15 L/min. Had these leaks gone unnoticed, the cumulative loss would have been immense, totaling over 61 million litres of water per year.
Federation Council Mayor, Cr Cheryl Cook, highlighted the importance of this initiative. "Water is an incredibly precious resource, especially in our region, and every drop counts," Mayor Cook said.
"This collaboration with DCCEEW has allowed us to proactively identify and address significant water losses that would otherwise go unnoticed, directly contributing to our long-term water security and operational efficiency. We are particularly pleased with the detection of the 23 main-side leaks, as these represent treated water that was essentially being lost before it reached our residents. This project is a testament to Council's commitment to sustainable water management and ensuring we deliver the best possible service to our community."
Council staff are currently focused on repairing the identified non-revenue water leaks. Simultaneously, the 9 affected residents have been notified of their leaks, and Federation Council extends its gratitude to those customers who have already taken steps to repair their leaks.
This Active Leak Detection Project is part of the NSW Government's Water Efficiency and Regional Leakage Reduction Program. To date, this state-wide program has surveyed 18,000 kilometres of water mains, found over 3000 leaks, and repaired 7,500 ML/year of water leaks across 60 regional councils.
