The NSW Government is investing $4 million in a new AI-powered water monitoring platform designed to detect leaks faster and potentially save enough water each year to supply around 13,500 homes.
Known as NSW DataDrop, the platform will bring smart-meter data from government buildings across the state into a single near real-time system, helping agencies identify unusual water use and respond to leaks before they become costly.
Once fully operational, the technology is expected to save up to 2,700 megalitres of water each year.
AI to Detect Hidden Water Leaks
NSW DataDrop is being developed in partnership with Griffith University’s Smart Water Informatics team.
The platform will use advanced analytics and AI-powered leak detection to monitor water use across major government facilities, including schools, TAFEs and hospitals.
Rather than producing hundreds of individual leak alerts, the system will consolidate information into clearer reports, helping maintenance teams identify and prioritise leaks.
It will automatically detect unusual consumption patterns, estimate potential water and financial losses, and alert users when possible leaks are identified.
Schools Could Lose 20% of Water Through Leaks
An average NSW school uses around 2 million litres of water each year, with an estimated 20 per cent of consumption potentially linked to leaks.
A single leaking toilet can waste as much water over a year as an average school’s entire annual water use.
Large and complex facilities can be difficult to monitor using traditional methods, particularly where changes in normal activity make hidden leaks harder to identify.
The DataDrop platform is designed to distinguish more effectively between normal water use and abnormal consumption.
New Water Education Tool for Students
The platform will also include a dedicated student-friendly interface, giving school students access to information about their school’s water use and the broader urban water cycle.
The education component will be supported by lesson plans and practical activities, including water audits that allow students to work with real-world consumption data.
Government Water Data in One Platform
NSW DataDrop will combine smart-meter information with property and water-use data from government agencies and water utilities.
The system is expected to improve benchmarking between different buildings and sectors, provide better insights into consumption patterns and support longer-term water efficiency planning.
The project builds on earlier work under the NSW Water Efficiency and Regional Leakage Reduction Program, including stakeholder consultation and development of a proof-of-concept platform.
Platform Expected by Mid-2027
NSW DataDrop is expected to be ready for use by mid-2027.
Water Minister Rose Jackson said near real-time monitoring would allow government agencies to identify abnormal water use much earlier, particularly when water continues flowing in buildings that should be empty.
The NSW Government also sees potential for the technology to eventually be expanded beyond government facilities to businesses, other sectors and households.
Once operational, DataDrop is expected to provide government agencies with a centralised system for identifying leaks, reducing water waste and lowering operating costs across some of the state’s largest water users.
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