Lendlease saves water with smart metering

Lendlease has implemented a smart water metering program in its retirement villages, saving the equivalent of over 17 Olympic-sized pools of water since 2017.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, buildings are responsible for 12% of the world’s freshwater use.

Determined to improve water conservation and cost savings, Lendlease started a smart water metering program with Australia’s largest corporate water savings company, WaterGroup.

WaterGroup’s smart watering solution was rolled out across the retirement living portfolio, saving over $180,000 in water use.

As of April 2020, 41 out of 72 of Lendlease’s retirement villages had a smart water metering solution comprised of a smart water logger and a desktop portal to view the water data collected.

To ensure Lendlease Retirement village managers were set up to succeed, WaterGroup provided a six-month AWARE (active water analysis, risk and efficiency) management service. The AWARE service included an experienced team who proactively monitored and analysed data, helping village managers make the most of their smart metering systems.

In WaterGroup’s 2019 AWARE report to Lendlease, a reported $124,000 water savings was achieved.

Since 2017 the entire portfolio has saved 3.26% in water use — equivalent to 17 Olympic-sized pools — reducing residents’ outgoings by over $180,000 in water bills across the portfolio.

Data automation: water logger and Dee Why Gardens

Dee Why Gardens Village installed a water logger in 2019 and is one of many smart metering success stories across the Lendlease retirement village portfolio.

In March 2020 WaterGroup’s smart logger alerted the village management team of two significant leaks that were occurring in pipes deep in the ground that would have otherwise been very challenging to identify.

Thanks to the water logger alert and the village management team’s swift response, the location of the leak was found and repaired. This leak was estimated to have cost the village over $2500 a month. The insight and quick response avoided serious cost and potential safety and damage issues, had this underground leak gone on for a prolonged period.

Tim James, Village Manager of Dee Why, received the leak alerts. He asked staff to look out for damp residues around the grounds and buildings — however, nothing was immediately obvious.

“I noticed the leak alerts continuing and water use increasing. Without being able to observe the issue, I knew we needed to call in the experts for an assessment,” he said.

Lendlease engaged WaterGroup’s leak detection team, and within four hours WaterGroup had tracked the exact location of the leak, using its high-tech acoustic leak detection equipment.

WaterGroup discovered a cracked pipe under seemingly dry concrete slabs on one of the Village outdoor paths. James shared this information with their local plumber, who was easily able to dig underground, find the leak and successfully repair the pipe. What could have been a serious, costly and long-term issue was identified, found and rectified within five weeks.

The importance of saving water

Across its Retirement Living villages Lendlease believes that saving water is both the right thing to do, as well as the smart thing to do in terms of reducing cost and supporting a lower cost of living for its most valued stakeholder — its residents.

It continues to pursue water savings through investigating rainwater harvesting and re-use, retrofitting water efficient fittings and fixtures, water-sensitive design, real-time water monitoring and the latest technologies available for leak detection.