Water Leak Relief

If you experience a significant increase in water consumption and a higher than normal water bill, you may have an undetected water leak somewhere on your property.

To determine if you have an undetected water leak there are a number of checks you can perform:

• turn off all water appliances (for example showers, sprinklers, taps, washing machines etc.) on your property and monitor your water meter. If the meter continues to turn over you may have a significant leak somewhere on your property
• inspect your property to see if there are any puddles or wet patches that are not drying up as this may be an indication that there is a leak within the area

If you discover you have an undetected water leak that requires repairing, you may be eligible for a rebate from Council for part of the water consumption charge. For a rebate to be considered, you must first have the leak repaired by a licensed plumber and submit the following paperwork to Council:

• a report from your plumber detailing the undetected water leak
• a copy of the plumber’s tax invoice for repairing of the water leak
• a completed Hinchinbrook Shire Council Water Leak Relief Application Form (PDF).

As Water Leak Relief is permitted in terms of the ‘Hardship’ provision of the Local Government Act, relief may only be provided if a water leak causes water consumption to increase by over 50 kilolitres above normal consumption and all  criteria has been met. A Water Leak Relief of 50% may be applied to the difference between the water consumption of the applicable billing period and the water consumed during the same billing period in the immediately preceding financial year, which is indicative of the ratepayer’s normal consumption, multiplied by the current water tariff.

In the case of an eligible pensioner, who is the holder of a valid Pensioner Concession Card or a Not-For-Profit/Charitable Organisation, relief of 100% may be applied to the difference between the water consumption for the applicable billing period and the water consumed during the same billing period in the immediately preceding financial year, which is indicative of the ratepayer’s normal consumption, multiplied by the current water tariff.

Example:

Water Leak Relief is not applicable to commercial or industrial ratepayers as defined by Council’s current commercial or industrial General Rating Categories.

Relief will be capped at $500 per property per financial year to limit Council’s financial commitment to a reasonable level and the ratepayer has not received Water Leak Relief in the past 3 years.

For more information on Water Leak Relief or the required application form, please refer to the following:

• Water Leak Relief Policy (PDF)
• Water Leak Relief Application Form (PDF)

For further information on Water Leak Relief please contact Council on 4776 4600 or to make an online enquiry click here to fill out the Rates Enquiry web form.