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Schools trial AI leak detection technology to save water

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Cite

Bowring, D. (2026, September 22). Schools trial AI leak detection technology to save water. ABC News (AU). https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-23/schools-trial-ai-leak-detection-technology-to-save-water/107181278

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

ABC News (AU) · collected 2026-09-22 · by Declan Bowring

Quick Summary

NSW is trialing AI technology to detect water leaks in schools and government buildings, aiming to save 2,700 megalitres annually. The system analyzes smart meter data to identify leaks before sending alerts to managers. Developed with Griffith University and funded by a $4 million investment, the technology has already been tested by local councils and is being expanded to Sydney Water for further trials.
Written by AI on 2026-09-23, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

NSW is trialing AI technology to detect water leaks in schools and government buildings as part of the NSW Water Efficiency Program, managed by Jethro Laidlaw. The program uses smart meters to identify leaks and alert maintenance teams, potentially saving up to 2,700 megalitres of water annually. According to Professor Rodney Stewart from Griffith University's School of Engineering and Built Environment, the technology can pinpoint problematic areas efficiently, reducing unnecessary repairs. On average, a school in NSW uses about 2 megalitres (2 million litres) per year, with an estimated 20% lost due to leaks; one toilet was found leaking up to 7 million litres over time. The portal, expected to be operational by mid-next year, will allow site managers to monitor multiple locations simultaneously, streamlining leak detection and repair processes.

Written for “School AI Water Leak Detection Trials” on 2026-10-30, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 School AI Water Leak Detection Trials
Technology · 1 article(s) covering the same event.

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How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
22
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
9%
2 of 22 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
68/100
ABC News (AU)'s corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Technology
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-09-23 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

ABC News (AU) · 4383 article(s) · 10 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 10 correction(s)

Who wrote this

Declan Bowring
13 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
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🔮 Construction is expected to take place from March next year until February 2028.
🔮 The state's head of water efficiency programs says the technology could lead to 2,700 megalitres of water being saved every year.
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Also by Declan Bowring
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 13 articles by Declan Bowring →

Topics

Central Coast Council Griffith University NSW Tamworth Regional Council the NSW Water Efficiency Program

Subjects

Laidlaw PERSON · 4× NSW GPE · 4× Griffith University ORG · 2× Central Coast Council ORG · 1× Hunter Water ORG · 1× Jethro Laidlaw PERSON · 1× Rodney Stewart PERSON · 1× School of Engineering and Built Environment ORG · 1× Tamworth Regional Council ORG · 1× the NSW Water Efficiency Program ORG · 1×

Narrative

"Our leak algorithms turn a flood of smart meter data into a clear road map for maintenance teams, ensuring they fix the right leaks at the right time," Griffith University School of Engineering and Built Environment professor Rodney Stewart said.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-23
🔮 The state's head of water efficiency programs says the technology could lead to 2,700 megalitres of water being saved every year.
2026-09-23 · ABC News (AU)
Schools trial AI leak detection technology to save water · assertive framing

Claims (22 extracted, 2 hedged)

In short: AI technology is being trialled in NSW to clamp down on water leaks in schools and government buildings. asserted
technology → trialle → schools
The state's head of water efficiency programs says the technology could lead to 2,700 megalitres of water being saved every year. uncertain
megalitres → say → water
A portal that shows leaks and alerts is expected to be ready for use by the middle of next year. asserted
that → show → year
The NSW government is trialling artificial intelligence to catch the millions of litres of water lost by leaks in schools, TAFEs, hospitals and public housing. asserted
government → trialle → schools
The technology analyses reports from smart meters to identify leaks before sending alerts to agencies. asserted
technology → analyse → agencies
Jethro Laidlaw, who manages the water efficiency programs for the government, said this could save 2,700 megalitres of water every year. uncertain
this → manage → water
"The average school in NSW uses about 2 megalitres, or 2 million litres, a year," he said. " asserted
he → use → megalitres
We know from smart meter data we can see that about 20 per cent of that seems to be leaks. asserted
cent → know → that
"I've seen one toilet leak 7 million litres. asserted
toilet → see → litres
" Information about leaks is collated into a portal that allows site managers to monitor multiple locations at once. " asserted
managers → collate → locations
If he's [ the site manager] looking after 50 different schools, then he has 50 different logins for 50 different sites and it becomes unworkable really quickly," Mr Laidlaw said. asserted
Laidlaw → look → sites
The technology, developed with teams from Griffith University, is being funded by a $4 million investment through the NSW Water Efficiency Program. asserted
technology → develop → Program
It is already being trialled by Tamworth Regional Council, Central Coast Council and Hunter Water. asserted
It → trialle → Council
"Our leak algorithms turn a flood of smart meter data into a clear road map for maintenance teams, ensuring they fix the right leaks at the right time," Griffith University School of Engineering and Built Environment professor Rodney Stewart said. asserted
Stewart → turn → Engineering
Mr Laidlaw says work is underway to get Sydney Water on board with the pilot. asserted
Water → say → pilot
Preparing for the next drought Mr Laidlaw said it was important to roll out the trial before the state faced another dry period. asserted
state → prepare → period
"My job is to think about the next drought," Mr Laidlaw said. " asserted
Laidlaw → think → drought
It also saves a lot of water and money along the way, but in droughts you can't roll out big projects like this." asserted
you → save → this
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a strong El Niño until at least autumn 2027, which typically brings hot and dry conditions to NSW. asserted
which → forecast → NSW
Water Minister Rose Jackson said the technology would save water and taxpayer money from going down the drain. asserted
technology → say → drain
"Water is our most valuable and previous resource and we want to make every drop count, particularly as we enter drier summer conditions," she said. asserted
she → want → conditions
"This is technology that can go further, with the potential to be rolled out across other sectors and into homes, helping households and businesses take greater control of their water use." asserted
households → go → use
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