You notice rising water bills or water damage on your property
Water & Pipe
Pool & External
Water & Pipe
Pool & External
Since starting in Brisbane in 1989, ALD has grown into a national leak detection network across Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. We locate leaks without unnecessary damage, using specialist equipment to provide the documented proof your plumber or insurer needs to act with confidence.
From homeowners noticing wet patches to strata managers investigating rising water bills, we have built our reputation on precision, honest advice, and using the right tools for each job. Our approach has stayed the same from day one: find the leak accurately while protecting the property.
The problem
The problem with traditional plumbing was obvious to anyone who'd dealt with it. A homeowner would notice water damage on their ceiling. They'd call a plumber. The plumber would arrive, look at the damage, make an educated guess about where the leak might be coming from, and recommend starting with excavation. Out would come the jackhammer. Off would come chunks of concrete driveway or garden. Backyard got torn apart. Utility lines got hit sometimes. And even after all that destruction, the leak might not be where they guessed. So they'd dig again. And again. Customers ended up spending thousands on property damage while trying to solve what might have been a $500 repair.
1989
In 1989, ALD was founded by engineers who asked a different question: why not listen for the leak instead? The science was there. Pressurised water escaping through a crack makes a very specific sound—a high-frequency hissing or rushing noise that's completely different from normal water flowing through an intact pipe. If you could isolate that sound frequency, you could pinpoint a leak location without ever breaking ground. This wasn't a trend. It was a foundational philosophy. From day one, ALD was committed to non-invasive detection—finding the problem without causing more damage in the search.
That innovation worked. And it worked consistently. As word spread through Brisbane, then across Queensland, customers started calling ALD first instead of calling plumbers. They appreciated the precision, the lack of property destruction, the professional reports that they could take straight to their plumber or insurance company. ALD proved, decade after decade, that specialist leak detection delivered better outcomes than general plumbing guesswork. Properties stayed intact. Plumbers got accurate information and completed repairs in single visits instead of multiple excavation attempts. Insurance claims processed faster because insurers had documented evidence of the problem.
1990s
By the late 1990s, ALD had refined its methodology and invested in cutting-edge detection technologies—acoustic sensors, thermal imaging cameras, tracer gas detection systems, CCTV inspection equipment, and ground penetrating radar. The team developed a comprehensive technical training program that would become the gold standard for non-invasive leak detection across Australia. Every technician was trained to the same curriculum, certified on the same equipment, and held to the same quality standards. This consistency, combined with continuous investment in new technology, is why ALD technicians today can tackle challenges that would baffle general plumbers.
To scale nationally while maintaining local expertise, ALD transitioned to a franchise model in the early 2000s. This was a critical decision. The goal wasn't just to expand geographically—it was to expand while keeping the founding philosophy intact. Every ALD franchise operates under the same brand standards, uses the same equipment, follows the same detection protocols, and maintains the same commitment to non-invasive methodology. But each franchise is run by people who understand their local region intimately. They know the local water infrastructure, the common pipe materials used in different construction eras across their area, the typical building layouts of homes and commercial properties in their neighbourhood, and the specific soil conditions that affect water movement.
Today
Today, ALD operates across four states as a unified national network with locally embedded expertise. Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and the ACT all have dedicated ALD teams. Whether you're in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, or anywhere in between, you're getting the same precision technology, the same professional standards, and the same commitment to accuracy that ALD has delivered for 35 years. The technician arriving at your property combines national brand consistency with local knowledge that's accumulated over years of working in your region.
That combination—consistent quality at scale plus deep local understanding—is why properties across four states trust ALD first for leak detection.
ALD are detection specialists.
We do one thing—finding leaks—and we do it with precision that only comes from absolute focus. Our entire focus, every single day, is on answering one critical question with precision: where exactly is that leak, what might have caused it, and is the leak active or intermittent?
We carry: acoustic sensors, thermal imaging cameras, tracer gas detection equipment, CCTV inspection systems, ground penetrating radar, and pressure testing apparatus.
The Contrast
Are generalists by necessity. Leak detection is just one skill in a toolbox that includes dozens of other jobs.
When a plumber is faced with a leak they can't immediately see or hear with their ear pressed to a pipe, their default is often to excavate.
We've encountered countless situations where a plumber dug in three different locations before finding the actual leak, leaving the customer with thousands of dollars in property damage.
Are detection specialists. We do one thing—finding leaks—and we do it with precision.
Arrive with specialist equipment and a technician who has spent hundreds of days doing exactly this job.
Find the leak. The plumber fixes it. Both roles are honoured by the people who specialise in them.
You notice rising water bills or water damage on your property
You call ALD first.
We arrive with specialist equipment and a technician who has spent hundreds of days doing exactly this job.
We provide you with a detailed, written report that pinpoints the problem, documents the evidence we used, and provides recommendations for your plumber
Within an hour or two, we've located the leak to within 1-2 metres.
Professional credentials aren't decoration. They represent standards. They represent training. They represent ongoing audits and quality assurance. They represent accountability. ALD holds a comprehensive set of certifications and state licences. Here's what they mean for you—and why they matter beyond the acronyms.
This certification means every service we deliver follows documented, tested, and continuously improved processes. Your inspection is handled the same way whether you're in Brisbane or Melbourne. We measure quality. We record what we find. We review our processes. We identify where we can improve. And we implement those improvements systematically. For you, this translates to consistency, reliability, and predictability. When you call ALD, you know what to expect because we've built systems to deliver the same standard every time.
Environmental responsibility isn't optional—it's embedded in how we operate. We minimise waste. We manage fuel and equipment responsibly. We minimise emissions. We ensure that our non-invasive approach protects local ecosystems. This is particularly important in water-sensitive areas where any disruption can damage native vegetation or affect local water tables. When we detect a leak without excavation, we're not just protecting your property—we're protecting the environment.
Your technician arrives trained, equipped, and prepared to work safely on your property. This certification ensures rigorous safety protocols—from equipment handling to site management to emergency procedures. The technician understands hazard identification. They're trained in risk mitigation. They carry proper safety equipment. They know how to work around your family and property safely. A safe workplace is a professional workplace, and this certification proves our commitment to both.
This Australian standard governs how we locate and classify underground infrastructure. It matters because accurate utility detection prevents accidental damage to electricity cables, gas lines, water mains, and telecommunications systems. When we're using ground penetrating radar or tracer gas detection, we're following this standard to ensure we're identifying all subsurface utilities correctly. This protects both your property and workers during any future excavation.
This certification qualifies our technicians to work on and around fire protection systems, which is critical in commercial and multi-residential properties where fire sprinkler systems are part of the infrastructure we may need to inspect or test. Fire protection is serious business, and this accreditation ensures we handle it with proper expertise.
This geographic reach means that more properties across more of Australia have access to ALD's specialist leak detection services. Being national means you get the same ALD experience whether you're in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, or anywhere in between. Same equipment. Same detection methodology. Same quality standards. Same written reporting format. Same commitment to non-invasive detection. Our technicians are trained to the same curriculum. They're certified on the same equipment. They're held to the same quality standards. There's no difference in professionalism or capability between ALD Victoria and ALD NSW and ALD Queensland.
You're choosing non-invasive detection—your property will not be damaged in the search for a leak. You're choosing written reports that your plumber and insurance company can rely on. You're choosing a team that specialises in detection, not a generalist trying to add detection to their toolkit. You're choosing a company that operates to the same standards nationally but employs locals who understand your region. We listen when others guess. We locate precisely. We protect your property. And we deliver the evidence you need to move forward with confidence.
Contact ALD today for a consultation. Describe your situation, and we'll help you understand whether leak detection is the right first step. If it is, we'll schedule a technician to visit your property with the equipment and expertise needed to pinpoint the problem.
