- An underground leak is in your main supply pipe, between the meter and the house.
- A retic leak is in your garden irrigation system, on a separate network of pipes.
- Both can spin your meter with no visible sign of water, especially in Perth’s sandy soil.
- A simple isolation test at home will tell you which one you’re dealing with.
- Only one of them qualifies for the Water Corp Leak Allowance the same way, retic has extra rules.
- A compliant invoice from a licensed plumber is essential either way if you plan to claim.
If your water meter is spinning with everything in the house turned off, you’re dealing with one of two things: a leak in the main supply pipe running from the meter to your house, or a leak somewhere in your reticulation (retic) system.
They sound similar. They are not the same problem, and mixing them up can cost you time, money, and your Water Corporation Leak Allowance claim.
What’s actually different between the two
An underground leak is a fault in the main water pipe that runs from your meter to your house. It sits below your lawn, driveway, or paving, and it carries all the water your household uses.
A retic leak is a fault somewhere in your garden irrigation system, in a solenoid valve, a cracked pipe, or a fitting that’s failed underground. Retic runs on its own separate network, usually shallower and more spread out across the yard.
Both can spin your meter. Both can hide underground with no visible sign. But they’re fixed differently, and only one of them is straightforwardly covered by the Water Corp allowance.
Signs it’s a retic leak vs an underground leak
- Meter keeps spinning even with retic fully isolated.
- No obvious wet patch anywhere, particularly in sandy soil suburbs like Rockingham, Baldivis, and Mandurah.
- Driveway or paving starting to sink or subside.
- Bill jump is large and sudden.
- Meter only spins when your reticulation is scheduled to run, or shortly after.
- One patch of lawn that’s greener or boggier than the rest.
- Turning off the retic isolation valve stops the meter.
The test that tells you which one you’ve got
Meter stopped
The fault is in your irrigation system. It’s likely a retic leak.
Meter kept moving
The fault is in your main supply. It’s an underground leak between the meter and the house.
Why the distinction matters for your Water Corp claim
This is the part most homeowners get wrong. The Water Corporation Leak Allowance covers hidden leaks in your main supply, and it can cover hidden retic leaks too, but the eligibility rules are stricter for retic.
$250+ usage charge, or 150kL+
Within 60 days of detection
Once every 5 years per property
Must include isolation valve + master solenoid
When to call a professional
You can run the isolation test yourself, and you should, it costs nothing and narrows things down fast. But once you’ve confirmed a hidden leak, three things stop most people going further on their own.
Perth’s sandy soil and liquid limestone paving make trial-and-error digging expensive, and often wrong.
No allowance is granted unless the repair is done by a licensed plumber, with a compliant invoice.
DIY excavation or unlicensed repair work can void a trace and access insurance claim.
Frequently asked questions
Can a retic leak still qualify for the Water Corp Leak Allowance?
Yes, if it’s genuinely hidden and the repair includes a manual isolation valve and a master solenoid. Without these, the claim can be rejected even if the leak was hidden.
Why isn’t there a wet patch anywhere in my yard?
In sandy soil, common across Rockingham, Baldivis, and Mandurah, water can drain away invisibly. A large underground leak can run for weeks with no surface sign at all.
Do I need a licensed plumber for a retic leak repair?
For the pipe and valve work, yes if you want the Water Corp allowance. A Waterwise Garden Irrigator can also carry out irrigation repairs, but cannot work on internal plumbing.
Will you tell me if it’s retic or underground before you start digging?
Yes. We pinpoint the exact source with acoustic and thermal imaging equipment before anything is dug up, so you know what you’re dealing with and what it costs before we start.
Not sure which one you’ve got? We’ll pinpoint it before anything gets dug up.
Brad Byrne carries acoustic and thermal imaging gear on the same van as the repair tools, so there’s no separate booking once the leak is found. We confirm whether it’s your main supply or your retic system, pinpoint the exact location, and provide a Water Corp compliant invoice either way.
Servicing:
Rockingham • Baldivis • Kwinana • Mandurah • Fremantle
Aus Star Plumbing & Gas, PL7378. Servicing Perth’s south corridor and Peel region.