Yarra Valley Water has engaged New Plumbing Solutions (NPS) to deliver this initiative. 

Established in 2009, NPS provides high quality, safety-first plumbing maintenance. NPS are committed to providing the most experienced and competent field personnel on the job and ensuring the highest quality customer experience.

A fully licenced NPS plumber will visit your home to conduct the water audit. The NPS plumber will carry YVW contractor cards and will be able to produce these on request. 

There is no cost involved for the water audit. The plumber will undertake the water audit, make water efficiency recommendations, and provide a final report, completely free of charge. 

The plumber will assess your bathroom, toilet, kitchen, laundry and outdoor taps or water tanks. They will conduct a meter leak test, measure the flow rates and provide recommendations for water efficiencies in your home.

We encourage you to walk around your home with the plumber. Past participants have found the experience helpful in understanding the efficiency of their plumbing and learning from the plumber’s experience. 

Different properties will require different lengths of time to complete. Smaller or newer properties with modern fittings may take as little as 15 minutes, while a larger or older home will take a bit longer. As an indicator, we recommend you allow one hour for your appointment. 

Should you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please call NPS on 1300 994 559 and select Option 2 at least four hours before the scheduled appointment time. For appointments scheduled before 11 am, please advise NPS the previous business day.

Fixtures, fittings, and appliances get better every year, and we find that newer homes are more efficient. While available to any customer invited to participate, the program will be of the most benefit to those with an older home.

If you are interested in other ways to save water, you can find more information at yvw.com.au/help-advice/saving-water.

Customers with older homes have found the program particularly beneficial as older homes typically have fixtures and fittings that are less efficient, and a water audit can reveal opportunities to make water savings.

If you live in a unit, flat or apartment, there is less plumbing to inspect, so the water audit typically takes as little as 10 minutes. However, a water audit is still worthwhile as it can help identify ways to save water.

This program has the potential to provide annual water savings of up to 20 kilolitres per household, saving up to $150 per year across water and energy bills.

As part of the water audit, the plumber will conduct a meter leak test, assess flow rates, and provide recommendations for water efficiencies. If you have an existing leak, we recommend you contact your local plumber to investigate. 

Following your appointment, NPS will email you a copy of your water audit for your records. You may also be invited to participate in a short survey so that we can better understand your experience to make the program the best it can be.