Improved water meter data helps Masterton plug leaks
Fri, 14th Aug 2026 (Today)
Masterton's water loss has halved over the past year.
At the end of June 2026, water loss across the Masterton network had dropped to 15%, down from 30% in June 2025, while water consumption had dropped to 345 litres per person per day in the same time period, compared to 405 litres.
Masterton District Council said the gains were attributed to more accurate water-use data from the 9300 water meters installed across the district, enabling more effective leak detection.
Previously, water loss through leaks was estimated using minimum night-time flow data, a far less accurate method relying on standard industry assumptions that were subtracted from estimated or known water consumption.
The council's infrastructure group manager, Tyler Ross, said the new method had allowed council to better support the community in identifying and fixing water leaks.
"Using this information, we were able to provide water-use summaries to households and follow up with leak notification letters where consumption was unusually high," Ross said.
"Our customer service team experienced a sharp increase in enquiries and service requests, but it helped kick-start the kōrero about leaks and how to get them fixed.
"Our team worked closely with residents to help identify and resolve leaks, carrying out numerous onsite inspections, reassuring homeowners who were concerned about their water use, and helping customers recognise potential leaks on their properties."
Ross said helping people understand their water use had also led to quicker resolutions and improved community awareness around water conservation.
"It has given residents a better understanding of how water meters work and how they can use the information to monitor their own consumption."
One example involved a property with a significant leak located beneath a shared concrete driveway, Ross said.
Because there were no visible signs of water escaping, the issue was only detected through the water meter, which showed a large and continuous flow of water.
"Being able to identify and fix these leaks helps us conserve and protect our water resources," he said.
"If anyone has questions about their water-use summary, we encourage them to contact our customer service team."
-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
