NSW defends water patrol spending

The New South Wales Government is defending its multi-million water patrols in Sydney.

Since 2003, Sydney Water has paid $5 million annually for officers to patrol the city, looking for households wasting water and also to educate people on water use.

The state Opposition says the patrols are a waste of money.

But the Minister for Water Utilities, David Campbell, says more than 200 billion litres of water has been saved since water patrol officers were introduced.

"These people cover an area of over 4 million people and they have carried out more than 350,000 property inspections, relating to exemptions and water waste, reports from other customers and other members of the community," he said.