17-Feb 2010: Last week Aqua Environmental completed a 44km survey of the water mains in the Tweed Heads area in northern New South Wales. This project was completed for Tweed Shire Council, which was a part of the NSW Water Loss

Management Program, a $22M joint initiative betweenthe Local Government and Shires Association of NSW, the Water Directorate and the Australian Government (through the Water Smart Australia program) help reduce water leakage for local water authorities in the state.

The project was a huge success with a couple of very large water leaks located, that without our skill would remain unnoticed for long periods of time. The largest of the leaks was on a 150mm water main and was flowing under a roadway – this was viewed to leaking at a rate of 4-5 litres per second and was found during night time hours.

Aqua Environmental was engaged after Minimum Night Flow and Reservoir Drop Tests were completed on a number of sectorised zones to ensure a more targeted approach to their leakage activities was achieved.

The feedback from the Tweed Shire Council representatives has been very positive following the project and they have labeled it a “terrific success” for their first attempt at active leakage reduction activities.

This was our first involvement with Tweed Shire Council and we look forward to our continuing involvement with them and other NSW water authorities under the Water Loss Management Program.

A copy of the Tweed Shire Council Leakage Report prepared by the NSW Water Loss Management Program can be downloaded from the Tweed Shire Council website.