The Sunshine Coast’s water provider is urging homeowners to be vigilant after thousands of locals were affected by hidden leaks during the past 12 months.
Unitywater identified more than 4500 customers who experienced higher-than-normal water usage: an indication that water has been seeping out of sight.
Executive manager customer experience Katherine Gee said leaks can be invisible and silent, often going unnoticed until there is property damage or a costly water bill.
“Concealed leaks such as those underneath driveways, in walls or underground can cause property damage and waste thousands of litres of water each day which ultimately shows up on your water bill,” Ms Gee said.
“A customer had a concealed leak underneath their driveway, with plumbing repairs costing $1300 and their Unitywater bill was nearly $9000 (for three months).
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“We know how stressful these experiences can be and the best way to avoid a large bill is by doing regular, simple leak checks.
“There are a few signs you can look out for like damp or discoloured patches on walls and ceilings, squishy sections of gardens, patches of lawn greener and longer than the rest, or a pool level that seems to drop quickly even when it’s not sunny outside.”
Customers who have repaired a concealed leak may be eligible for a one-off Concealed Leak Allowance to help offset some of the excess water costs.
For Unitywater’s complete list of ways to check for water leaks at home, see a guide at unitywater.com/sneaky-leaks.
How to check for leaks
- Turn off all taps and appliances that use water.
- Read your water meter and write down the numbers.
- Don’t use any water for one hour (not even a toilet flush).
- After an hour, go back and check the numbers.
- If the numbers have changed, you may have a leak. Call a licensed plumber to investigate.
