Excess Water Usage and Leaks

Excess Water Usage and Leaks

Introduction

Water leaks can be surprisingly expensive, particularly at Scout properties where buildings may be used intermittently and leaks can remain unnoticed for weeks or months.

This risk is particularly important at campsites and larger Scout properties, where there may be extensive underground and aged water reticulation on the property side of the water meter. Pipes may run considerable distances between the meter, amenities, kitchens, campsites, accommodation buildings, water points and other facilities. A leak in this network may have little or no visible evidence above ground.

A concealed leak may therefore continue 24 hours a day until someone notices unusual ground conditions, checks the meter, or an unexpectedly large water bill arrives.
Alert
The important principle is simple: once water passes through the property meter, the water used and the plumbing infrastructure on the property side of the meter are the formations responsibility, including leaks.

Why early detection matters

A small leak that runs continuously can consume a substantial amount of water over a billing period. Concealed leaks can occur underground, beneath driveways or within walls and can waste thousands of litres each day before becoming apparent.
This can be particularly problematic for Scout properties because:
  1. many sites are unoccupied for significant periods;
  2. campsites can have long and complex underground pipe networks;
  3. toilets, showers and amenities may not be inspected every day;
  4. irrigation systems and external taps may be some distance from buildings;
  5. vegetation can hide wet areas or leaking pipes; and
  6. the first indication of a problem may be a quarterly water account or high-consumption notification.
For example, a notification to Scouts Queensland identified an increase at one property from 3kL to 28kL for the billing period, representing an increase of approximately 290 litres per day.

While some water authorities have concealed-leak adjustment or assistance arrangements, these are subject to eligibility requirements and should never be relied upon as a way of recovering the cost of lost water. All will reinforce that it is our responsibility for investigating and repairing private plumbing leaks.
Warning
Once thousands of litres of water have passed through the meter, it may be difficult or impossible to have the full consumption charges waived.

A simple routine for Scout properties

Those responsible for scout facilities should make reading the water meter part of routine property inspections, rather than only checking it when a high bill is received.
Record the meter reading and date periodically and compare it with previous readings. At campsites and larger properties, taking a photograph of the meter is an easy way of maintaining a record.

Look for unexplained changes in consumption. Remember that higher consumption is not necessarily a leak — camps, working bees, irrigation, pressure cleaning, filling tanks, additional visitors and other activities can legitimately increase consumption. However, if there is no obvious explanation for an increase, investigate it.

The basic meter test

One of the easiest ways to identify a possible leak is to test the property when nobody should be using water.
  1. Turn off taps and ensure toilets, showers, washing machines, dishwashers, irrigation systems, hoses and other water-using equipment are not operating.
  2. Take a photograph or record the complete water-meter reading, including the smaller litre indicators where applicable.
  3. Do not use any water for at least one hour. For campsites, an overnight test when the property is vacant can be even more useful.
  4. Read the meter again.
  5. If the meter has moved when no water should have been used, water is going somewhere and the cause needs to be investigated.

What should you look for?

If consumption appears abnormal, check obvious sources first: running toilet cisterns, dripping taps and showers, leaking hot-water systems or relief valves, irrigation systems, hoses and external taps, kitchen equipment, and any tanks or automatic filling systems connected to mains water.

Around the property, look for unexpectedly wet or boggy ground, unusually green patches of grass, water pooling where it normally would not, erosion, subsidence or uneven paving, particularly along known underground pipe routes. These can indicate concealed leaks.

At campsites, don't assume that because the buildings appear dry there isn't a leak. The problem could be hundreds of metres away from the nearest building.

Large campsites need a different approach

Where a campsite has a large reticulation network, consider whether the network can be divided into sections using isolation valves.
If the main meter indicates unexplained usage, progressively isolating different parts of the property can help narrow down where water is being lost. Do not undertake plumbing work yourself where the work requires a licensed plumber.

For particularly large or high-consumption properties, strategically located sub-meters or monitoring devices may also be worth considering. Water Corporation recommends sub-metering significant end uses on larger or more complex properties as a way of monitoring consumption and identifying abnormal usage.

A simple site plan showing the approximate location of the water meter, isolation valves, underground mains and major branches is also extremely valuable when a leak eventually occurs.

If you suspect a leak

Warning
Don't wait for the next water bill.
Arrange for a licensed plumber or leak-detection specialist to investigate where appropriate. Record the meter reading, take photographs, document when the problem was discovered, and retain the plumber's invoice and report.

This documentation may also be important if an application for a concealed-leak allowance or other assistance is available from the relevant water authority.
If the suspected leak is before or associated with the authority's side of the meter, contact the relevant water authority rather than attempting repairs yourself. Responsibility arrangements vary slightly between authorities, so check with the local water provider where there is uncertainty.

A good habit: check the meter

For an ordinary Scout den, checking and recording the water meter monthly would take only a few minutes.
For larger campsites or properties with extensive underground reticulation, consideration should be given to more frequent monitoring, particularly where the property is not continuously occupied.

The aim is to establish what "normal" looks like for the property. An unexplained change can then be investigated early rather than several months later.

Alert
Remember: 
Water leaking on our side of the meter is generally our responsibility. A leak does not need to be visible to be expensive. Regularly checking the meter is one of the simplest ways of protecting both our properties and Scout funds.