A leak you can’t see or easily find
Water Corporation describes hidden leaks as ones you can’t see and easily locate, often from a cracked or broken pipe underground, in walls, or under paving and driveways. Unitywater adds that a hidden leak can go unnoticed until an unusually large bill arrives or real water damage appears, and can waste thousands of litres of water a day.
Sydney Water points out that a hidden leak may be in the drinking water pipes or the recycled water pipes. Water Corporation lists why pipes leak at all: wear and tear, faulty pipes and fittings, ground movement and corrosion.
In the garden and on the paths
- Grass greener than the grass around it. Sydney Water says this can mean an underground pipe leak. Sydney Water; also Water Corporation, SA Water and Icon Water
- Very spongy areas of lawn. Water Corporation
- Pooling water, or wet areas that don’t dry out. Water Corporation
- Damp soil, or wet paths of brick or concrete. SA Water
- Uneven brick paving. Water Corporation
- Unexplained wet patches in the garden, which may point to a leak or fault in the irrigation system. South East Water and Water Corporation
On walls, floors and ceilings
- Damp or discoloured spots on walls, ceilings or floors. Water Corporation
- Damp, warped or discoloured walls, floors or carpets. SA Water
- Peeling or bubbling paint in the bathroom, kitchen or laundry. Water Corporation
- Mould or mildew, and musty smells. Water Corporation
- Cracks in the home’s foundation. Water Corporation
- Water pooling under the dishwasher or in cupboards. SA Water
What you hear, and what the bill says
- The sound of running water when no taps, showers or appliances are on and you can’t find where it’s coming from. Water Corporation; Icon Water also lists hearing running water constantly
- A water bill that has risen without warning when your water use hasn’t changed. Sydney Water
- A sudden, unexplained jump in the bill, which Water Corporation calls one of the most common indicators of a hidden leak. Water Corporation
- Meter numbers that keep ticking over when no water should be in use. Water Corporation
What “unnoticed” can cost
Unitywater publishes a real case from its own customers. A residential unit owner had a concealed leak under a concrete driveway that wasn’t visible above ground. The plumbing repairs cost $1,300, and the water and wastewater bill rose from an average of $250 to nearly $9,000 for the quarter.
That is one case on one utility’s prices, not a typical bill. Hunter Water’s advice is that checking regularly can help you catch problems early.
The signs that help you find a leak can affect an allowance
Several utilities give a credit on the bill for a hidden leak. Their definitions of “hidden” are specific, and some of the signs above are among the things they exclude. Read your own utility’s wording before you apply.
| Utility | Not counted as hidden |
|---|---|
| Sydney Water | Visible leaks, including damp soil or consistently wet grass, and leaks from taps, toilet cisterns, dishwashers or washing machines. |
| Hunter Water | Water seeping, pooling or running; dampness on the surface or in walls or floors; additional or unusual growth of grass or vegetation. |
| Icon Water | Leaks in paddocks, yards or gardens, which it says can generally be found by looking, for example a green patch of grass or boggy ground. |
| Water Corporation | A leak you didn’t notice around the back of the house; leaking taps; leaks from fittings, fixtures or appliances; leaks in pools, spas, ponds and water features. |
The allowances themselves, with their time limits, are in Leak allowances and bill support.
When the signs point somewhere you can’t reach
Sydney Water notes that finding leaks hidden underground and inside walls takes special tools and skills that not every plumber has, and that a leak detection specialist can help when the meter test shows a leak you can’t locate. Water Corporation says that for anything beyond a worn tap washer, a licensed plumber is needed to fix the leak.
Before anyone digs, check whose pipe it is: where the utility’s part ends and yours begins differs by utility.