This, according to Narelle and MidCoast Water's asset engineer Lance Scriven, is the reason behind MidCoast Water's successful "twinning" with the Tonga Water Board, the Samoa Water Authority and the Independent Water Supplies Association of Samoa.

The twinning arrangement has included hosting visits from both Tongan and Samoan representatives, allowing them to learn more about the Australian water industry and our work practices.

The latest visitors were Tonga Water Board administration and customer services manager Elisiva Tapueluelu and finance manager Kolopeaua Tonga, who visited Taree and Forster MidCoast Water offices and MidCoast Water's Bootawa Dam facilities.

Lance Scriven explains the beauty of twinning is the countries' water boards can say what they need, and they are then paired with those who have the knowledge on how to meet these needs.

According to Elisiva, Tonga Water Board needed help combating leakages in its water system, as this was resulting in non-revenue water.

The Tonga Water Board provides water to four main populations across four different islands including Nukualofa, Eua, Vavau and Ha'apai.

MidCoast Water helped the Tonga Water Board develop planned research to locate the leakages and fix them. This has proved successful on the island of Ha'apai, which no longer runs at a loss of revenue.

On top of the planned research, MidCoast Water helped conduct educational visits to schools in Tonga, where students were taught how to identify leaks and the need to tell their parents to inform Tonga Water Board. The dream for both companies is for water education like this become part of the curriculum.

The next need to be met for the Tonga Water Board was determined by MidCoast Water's employees last visit to Tonga which is to improve their assets management.

In this visit to Australia, Elisiva and Kolopeaua learnt how to improve their asset management by finding out the way MidCoast Water sets its fees and charges.

According to Lance it's important relationships like these continue, as in some situations when aid is delivered, such as machinery, education on how to use it or fix it is either not taught or not continued.

Lance also cites numerous benefits for MidCoast Water's employees including improving their knowledge on another culture's water system and having a good working relationship with another water company's employees.

According to Lance it has also affirmed to MidCoast Water how far it has come with its own journey.

Narelle Hennessy, leader in scientific services, said the partnership also promotes continuous improvement of their own methodology, as in order to teach what they do, they must evaluate their procedures more closely.

"This is the best way to overcome our own problems," said Narelle.

This story first appeared in the Manning River Times.