Water Corporation leak allowance: what Perth homeowners can claim
Updated: 29 August 2026
If a hidden leak has pushed your water bill up, Water Corporation may credit part of the water you lost. It is called a leak allowance. It is not a fixed rebate and it does not pay for the repair: it is up to 50 per cent of the estimated water lost, assessed case by case.
What the leak allowance covers
Water Corporation can give you an allowance of up to 50 per cent of the estimated water lost through a hidden leak on your property. It is applied as a credit on your next bill rather than paid to you, and the cost of the plumbing work itself is not part of it.
When you can claim
- The leak was hidden, so it was not readily detectable.
- Your water use charge for the period was over $250, or your usage was over 150 kL.
- The leak was repaired within 60 days of you finding it, or within 60 days of a high water use or leak notification arriving with your bill.
- You lodge the claim within 6 months of the repair being finished.
What is not covered
Leaks you can see are excluded. That covers internal and external taps, fittings and fixtures such as shower heads, toilet cisterns, dishwashers, washing machines, other water appliances and valves, along with swimming pools, spas, ponds, water features and their fittings. A dripping tap is still worth fixing, and a single tap can waste thousands of litres a year, but it will not attract an allowance. If you want one sorted, see our leaking taps page.
What we give you for the claim
When we repair a hidden leak we can hand you everything Water Corporation asks for: a copy of our invoice describing the repair, your meter number, and the meter reading at the time of the repair. You will also need your latest bill. If it is an irrigation leak, we can tell you whether you have a manual isolation valve and a master solenoid installed.
How to apply
Apply through the leak allowance and rebates page on the Water Corporation website. Claims are generally reviewed within 20 business days, and an approved credit appears on your next bill. Check the current conditions on that page before you apply, because Water Corporation can change them.
Also worth knowing: the $400 Waterwise toilet rebate
Separate to the leak allowance, Water Corporation is running a Waterwise toilet rebate from 1 July 2026 to 31 May 2027. It is $400 towards a WELS 4-star or higher toilet, or $500 for a WELS 5-star toilet with an integrated hand basin, when you replace a single flush toilet or a dual flush toilet installed before 1995. It applies to residential properties connected to Water Corporation scheme water, up to two toilets per property, and the toilet has to be installed by a licensed plumber. The allocation is limited and the program closes early if it runs out, so read the terms on the Waterwise toilet rebate page before you count on it.
Got a leak you cannot find, or an old toilet you have been meaning to replace? Give us a call on (08) 9315 5545 and we will get it sorted.