Has Unitywater Told You That You Have a Water Leak? Here’s What to Do Next

More households across Moreton Bay are starting to receive something their old water meter could never really provide: an early warning that water may be leaking somewhere on their property.

Throughout 2026, Unitywater has been expanding its digital water meter network across suburbs including Kallangur, Murrumba Downs, Mango Hill, Strathpine, Bray Park and Warner.

The new meters send water usage data to Unitywater daily, making it much easier to identify unusual water consumption before a hidden leak turns into an unpleasant surprise on your next bill.

And the program is already finding a lot of leaks.

By July, Unitywater reported that its digital metering program had helped customers avoid more than $6.2 million in leak-related costs and save around one billion litres of water.

So what should you actually do if Unitywater contacts you about unusual water usage?

First: don’t assume you’ll be able to see the leak

A burst pipe spraying water across the yard is fairly obvious.

A concealed leak can be completely different.

Water may be escaping:

• beneath the ground
• behind a wall
• underneath a concrete slab
• from pipework beneath the house
• through a toilet cistern
• around a hot water system
• from an outdoor water line
• through a fitting that only leaks under pressure

There may be no dramatic puddle.

In some cases, the first indication is simply that the water meter keeps moving when nobody in the house is deliberately using water.

That’s exactly why digital monitoring can be useful.

Traditional meters are generally read periodically. Digital meters give Unitywater much more frequent information about your consumption, meaning continuous or unusual usage can potentially be identified much sooner.

You can perform a simple leak test yourself

If you suspect a leak, there’s an easy first check.

Turn off anything that intentionally uses water.

That means taps, washing machines, dishwashers, irrigation systems and anything else connected to the water supply.

Take a reading from your water meter.

Then avoid using water for around an hour and check the meter again.

If the reading has changed when nobody has used any water, there’s a good chance water is escaping somewhere.

The Queensland Government specifically recommends using the water meter this way to help identify potential household leaks.

Check the toilet before you start digging up the backyard

One of the simplest leaks can also be surprisingly expensive over time.

A toilet cistern can slowly leak water into the bowl without making much noise.

You might never notice it.

The Queensland Government estimates that a visibly leaking toilet can waste up to 18 buckets of water every day.

You can often test this by placing a small amount of food colouring into the cistern and waiting without flushing.

If colour begins appearing in the toilet bowl, water is passing from the cistern when it shouldn’t be.

But if the toilets, taps and other obvious fixtures aren’t the problem and your meter is still moving, it’s time to investigate further.

Who is responsible for a leak?

There’s an important distinction here.

Unitywater manages the water network supplying your property.

But generally, once water has passed through the meter and entered your private plumbing system, maintaining that plumbing becomes the property owner’s responsibility.

That means a leaking underground pipe between the meter and your house may be your responsibility even though you can’t see it.

This is also why ignoring a suspected leak can become expensive.

You’re potentially paying for water that never actually makes it to a tap.

What are the signs of a hidden water leak?

Even without a digital meter alert, there are sometimes clues.

Keep an eye out for:

• an unexplained increase in your water bill
• your water meter moving when everything is turned off
• unusually wet or soft areas in the yard
• sections of lawn growing noticeably faster than surrounding areas
• reduced water pressure
• damp areas appearing on walls or floors
• mould or musty smells
• water sounds when no taps are running

None of these automatically confirms a concealed leak, but they’re good reasons to investigate.

Why finding the leak early matters

A leaking pipe isn’t just a water-bill problem.

Where the water is escaping can matter even more than how much is being lost.

A small leak inside a wall can eventually damage plasterboard, cabinetry or flooring.

A leak beneath a property can create persistent moisture problems.

And an underground water leak can continue unnoticed for weeks or months if nobody checks the meter.

The earlier you identify the source, the more likely you are to fix the plumbing problem before it creates another problem somewhere else.

Can you get money back for a concealed leak?

Potentially.

Unitywater has a concealed leak policy that allows eligible customers to apply for adjustments to certain water and sewerage charges when a qualifying concealed leak has caused excessive water usage.

There are conditions attached, so an adjustment isn’t automatic and homeowners shouldn’t rely on a rebate rather than repairing the problem.

Importantly, keeping documentation of the leak and its repair can matter if you intend to make an application.

Received a leak notification from Unitywater?

Don’t panic, but don’t ignore it either.

A digital meter alert is essentially an opportunity to investigate the problem before another billing cycle passes.

Start by checking your toilets, taps and other obvious water-using fixtures.

If you still can’t explain the water usage, get the plumbing investigated.

RJT Plumbing & Gas can help identify and repair leaking plumbing around your property before a small problem becomes an expensive one.

We service North Lakes, Mango Hill, Griffin, Kallangur, Murrumba Downs and surrounding Moreton Bay suburbs.

If your water bill has suddenly jumped, your meter keeps moving or Unitywater has contacted you about unusual water usage, contact RJT Plumbing & Gas and get it checked.