Interruptions
There are some simple things you can do to manage the impact of water interruptions.
From time to time, your water supply may be interrupted. We aim to restore supply as quickly as possible and within four to five hours.
We will give you one week's notice of any planned water interruptions during planned maintenance or renewals of our pipes.
We cannot give you advance warning that the water will be turned off if there is a fault, such as a burst or leak, which requires emergency repair. If this happens we will work as fast as we can to get the water back on.
Interruptions to water can sometimes cause temporary changes to your water quality when it is back on.
Here is a guide on how you can prepare if you have been told your water will be turned off, or if you find you have no water due to emergency works.
What to do before the water is turned off, as planned
If we have notified you that your water will be turned off, take the following steps to prepare for the water being turned off:
- Fill some jugs or containers with extra water for drinking and/or cooking.
- Turn off all taps throughout your property, including laundry appliances, hot water service, water filters, air-conditioning units and outdoor sprinkling systems, so there is no risk of flooding if the water comes back on when you’re not around.
- Don’t try to use your washing machine, dishwasher or hot water service as this can result in sediment being drawn into the appliances which can damage them.
- Remove any wet washing from your washing machine.
What to do during a service interruption
These are some practical steps to take during a planned or unplanned interruption to your water.
Find information about when the water will be turned back on
- Review the notification card we left advising you about the planned interruption to your water.
- Check our planned works in your area guide for updates.
- Check our map for response times if your water has been turned off for emergency works.
- Call our 24/7 Fault Line on 13 27 62 and Press 1 for information about interruptions in your area and likely restoration times.
- If you can’t find information about it online or on our phone messaging, speak to one of our Faults Consultants, by calling our 24/7 Fault Line on 13 27 62.
Protect your property
- Turn off all taps throughout your property, including laundry appliances, hot water service, water filters, air-conditioning units and outdoor sprinkling systems, so there is no risk of flooding if the water comes back on when you’re not around.
- Don’t try to use your washing machine, dishwasher or hot water service, as this can result in sediment being drawn into the appliances which can damage them.
- Remove any wet washing from your washing machine.
Access to emergency drinking water
You should have time to fill jugs and containers with water for drinking and cooking, if we have notified you of the planned interruption to your water.
When we interrupt the water due to emergency repairs, access to emergency drinking water is available in the following ways:
- Our crews will have a limited supply of bottled water on their truck if you require access to emergency drinking water, and/or a tap will be placed on a nearby street hydrant which you can fill your own containers with.
- If you can’t travel to the work site to collect emergency drinking water due to a disability, health condition or age, call us on 13 27 62 so we can discuss whether a delivery of emergency drinking water is required. Delivery of water will depend on the number of emergency repairs we are managing at the time, who is nearby to facilitate a delivery and how long the water will be off for.
We may also consider an alternative way of providing emergency access to drinking water, depending on the level of impact experienced and the length of the interruption.
What to do when the water has been turned back on
When the water is turned back on, it can result in temporary changes to the look and taste of your water. We recommend you take the following simple steps to manage the impact of temporary changes once the water has been turned back on.
- Before using any internal taps, run the outside tap that is closest to your water meter for a few minutes. This will flush any water with natural sediments in it and stop discoloured water entering your internal pipes or your appliances.
- If you still notice the water from your internal taps is discoloured, run a tap at the back of your property (such as a garden tap) for a few minutes to flush the discoloured water from your internal pipes.
- Turn back on the appliance taps you may have turned off before the water was turned off.