Leak detection program returns to MidCoast

Published on 12 June 2025

Technicians from Aqua Analytics will again be on the lookout for leaks across the MidCoast when the NSW Government’s Regional Leakage Reduction Program returns to the region next week.

Beginning in Hawks Nest on Monday 16 June, the technicians will spend five weeks using state-of-the-art acoustic technology to uncover leaks in MidCoast Council’s drinking water network.

The major population hubs of Tea Gardens, Forster, Tuncurry, Old Bar, Taree, Wingham and Harrington will all be targeted in this time.

Council’s Director of Infrastructure and Engineering Services, Rob Scott, said cutting down on the amount of water lost to leaks was an ongoing focus for Council.

“This is the third time we’ve had Aqua Analytics here to survey parts of our network and it’s allowed us to make significant reductions in the amount of water going to waste,” said Mr Scott.

“Each time they discover a leak we get in and repair it quickly and as a result we’ve been able to fix hundreds of leaks and save tens of thousands of litres of drinking water per day.”

Mr Scott said the work would also benefit residents, with the technicians able to detect potential leaks on people’s properties from their water meter.

If a potential leak is discovered, a letter notifying the resident will be left in their mailbox and it will be up to them to have it fixed.

Mr Scott said this could help customers uncover concealed leaks, which would otherwise prove costly over time.

The Active Leak Detection Project is part of the NSW Government’s $15.5M Regional Leakage Reduction Program. Across the state to date, 20,000 kilometres of water mains have been surveyed, over 3,300 leaks have been found, and 7,500ML/year of water leaks have been repaired by regional Councils.