The project was funded through a Federal Government Energy Efficiency program, with the outcome of the project to try and reduce the amount and cost of energy consumed in pumping water that should not be entering the network.

The smoke testing identified a range of issues and defects; a large number relating to private properties, but the majority relating to Council responsibility.

The defects identified included things such as rainwater tank and gutter connection feeding directly into the sewer system, boundary junctions (Council responsibility) being too low and poorly maintained overflow gullies.

As a result of the program, those people with responsibility for defects will be issued defect notices and required to take corrective action, with Council also to take action on its areas of responsibility.

It is estimated that the cost to undertake the required corrective action will be $32,000 for Council responsibilities and $13,600 for private responsibilities or an average of $165 per property with a defect.

The amount of work required under each defect notice will vary, with some repairs very minor and other slightly more extensive depending on the type of defect.,

According to Boorowa Mayor Wendy Tuckerman, repairing the defects will have a big cumulative effect.

"During wet weather we often pump up to 5 times the amount of sewerage to our treatment plant than what we do on a dry day. Over time the electricity costs obviously add up," she said.

"This is a problem we need to fix; and I strongly encourage anyone who doesn't understand the defect notice, or has issues with the content to contact Council staff."