Leak sleuths arrive in Reefton as water loss problem continues

The scene outside Reefton's band hall today as Detection Services and council staff test leaky pipe. Photo / Lois Williams

The elusive leak draining Reefton's water supply is still evading discovery – but could be revealed soon, with the arrival of a team of expert leak detectives.

The Buller District Council has called in a Christchurch firm, Detection Services, to pinpoint the source of the water loss after its own efforts drew a blank.

Reefton households have been on an "essential use only" notice since the weekend when the council realised large volumes of water were being lost from the system.

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The team of three from Detection Services is now methodically working its way across town, checking the pipes with the aid of a leak noise correlator.

The electronic device uses a radio transmitter and microphone to listen for the hissing leak noise and calculate its exact location by calculating the time it takes to reach a sensor some distance away.

Detection Services spokesman Neil Scrutton said every pipe and hydrant in Reefton would be tested - in the effort to find the offending leak.

The team and Westreef workers were this morning investigating a leak in the pipes near the Reefton band hall – but it was not thought to be the one causing the problem.