The Acting Executive Director of Operations and Resilience of the New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (NSW DCCEEW), Zahra Anver, is excited about statewide water-saving opportunities.
NSW has never had so many aces up its sleeve in the battle against water waste, and in 2025 we’re on an all-out offensive to save billions of litres through smart, simple and cost-effective programs to lock in a more sustainable water future right across the state.
Although we’ve seen some recent rainfall in many parts of NSW, we know we’ll face a drier climate in the future. After the recent drought of 2017-2020, the worst ever recorded, we’ve learned a great deal about how to best manage our water resources and make the most of our existing supplies.
Namely, we’ve learned that water efficiency is key in all seasons.
These lessons are hardwired into the NSW Water Efficiency Framework, which seeks to embed water efficiency into policy and planning for our water utilities and supply systems, businesses, and local councils.
It’s a comprehensive and multi-faceted effort. Front and centre is our trailblazing leak detection work, which just saw a $3 million funding boost to expand water savings to some of the state’s driest regions, including Warrumbungle Shire, Warren, Moree Plains, Forbes, Cobar, Dubbo and Lithgow.
Using cutting-edge equipment, specialist teams will go out on the ground to survey local water supply networks and pinpoint leaking pipes. Their hi-tech tools include noise loggers, electronic listening sticks, ground microphones and leak noise correlators, which they use to ‘hear’ water as it escapes.
They will then send the critical data to local councils, enabling water utilities to zero-in and repair the leaks.
Patching up a pipe or two may not seem like a gamechanger, but this work has saved a staggering 7,500 megalitres of water per year over 60 regional locations over the last two years.
That’s enough water to meet the annual needs of about 37,500 households in NSW – which is about the number of homes in Port Macquarie.
It’s a huge and inspiring result. The newest round of the program will see teams survey about 6,000 kilometres of regional water supply mains across more than 40 high priority areas that are severely impacted during dry months.
The program aims to save up to another 4,000 megalitres of water per year, or enough to meet the annual water needs of around 20,000 households.
But leak detection is just one weapon in our arsenal. We’re attacking water waste from every possible angle, including at the household level, and we’re seeing incredible results.
In 2022, we launched the state’s first washing machine replacement pilot program, helping 5,000 social housing tenants switch out their inefficient top-loader washing machine with a brand-new water and energy efficient front-loader, for as little as $150.
Each machine replaced saved an estimated 25,000 litres of water per year, and slashed household electricity bills and detergent costs by about $240 for low-income residents most in need.
The program was another example of the big impact water efficiency measures can have, and the good news is we’re kicking off another round later this year, bringing these savings to even more NSW homes.
How NSW will continue its water saving goals
It’s just another part of the innovative suite of initiatives under the NSW Government’s Water Efficiency Program. Over the next two years, we will:
- Boost the Regional Leakage Reduction Program – aiming to save an additional 4,500 megalitres of water per year
- Launch another round of the Washing Machine Replacement Program, helping thousands of low-income households upgrade to a more efficient washing machine, saving water and easing cost-of-living pressures
- Continue the School Water Efficiency Program – launching an online portal to help K-12 students understand the importance of being water-wise and track their school’s water use and identify leaks
- Expand the Regional Water Loss Management Hub pilot to other regional areas, leveraging local expertise to save another 500 megalitres of water per year
- Launch a new industry drought preparedness program, helping businesses conduct water audits, access water savings resources and train and upskill workers in the sector
- Further water efficiency research into home water consumption using metering and AI technology, helping local water utilities boost water efficiency and streamline their services
- Continue work to deliver the water savings targets in the Greater Sydney Water Strategy and the Lower Hunter Water Security Plan, which aim to save over 40 billion litres per year
- Find ways to better integrate water efficiency policy and strategy into planning and development
The work to secure NSW’s water future has never been more challenging, particularly as we face a drying and more variable climate and more demand on our water resources as towns and communities continue to grow and thrive.
But it’s also an incredible opportunity to harness the latest tools, knowledge and technology to implement lasting, sustainable solutions, and be smarter with the water we have.
We need to make the most of every drop, and the incredible work in the water efficiency space will help us safeguard NSW’s water supplies for generations to come.
For more information, visit water.dpie.nsw.gov.au/our-work/projects-and-programs/water-efficiency
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