In your home

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your property

Detect a leak

Dripping taps can keep you awake at night and cost you money. A slowly dripping cold water tap loses about 5,000 litres of water over a three month period and adds unnecessary cost to your account.
 

As water meters can display usage to as little as a tenth of a litre (100 ml) you can monitor your water meter to detect leaks around your home.
 

A leak can cost you!

The following table shows how many litres of water are used on average by dripping taps and leaks and how much money this approximately equates to each quarter on your bill:
 

In your home

Litres per minute

Litres per day

Litres per quarter

Cost per quarter
(approx)
 

Buckets

Slowly dripping tap

0.02

28.8

2,628

$9

263

Fast dripping tap

0.16

230.4

21,024

$70

2,102

Dribbling tap/leaky cistern (constant flow)

0.22

316.8

28,908

$97

2,891

Flow (small leak eg. pin hole leak)

2

2,880

262,800

$878

26,280

Full flow (internal leak - equivalent to a tap on full)

20

28,800

2,628,000

$8,778

262,800


How to check for leaks

To check for leaks, make sure that there is no water being used within the house or in the garden. This means not flushing the toilets, operating taps, appliances or automatic watering systems.


Watch the water meter measurement numbers (see pictures) over a thirty minute period and note whether the right hand side dials or "clockfaces" are moving. 
 

dial meter

dial meter

clock meter

 

If  the dials have changed position, this indicates that there may be a leak in your household system.
 

To determine the extent of any leak read your water meter then, making sure not to use any water in the house or garden, wait for thirty minutes and take another meter reading. If you suspect you have a leak, you should seek expert advice and consult a licensed plumber. If you would like assistance in locating a plumber, please call our Plumbing Referral Service on 132 762.