Stop problems occurring

If you're experiencing a water supply problem on your property, please check our water outages map for any works in your area or find out more about water supply problems. Below are some simple things you can do to help prevent water supply problems in the future.

Prevent cracks, bursts and blockages

Water mains and pipes can sometimes crack, break or become blocked for a variety of reasons, such as tree roots, old age and damage from digging and landscaping. These faults commonly lead to water leaks which can go undetected over time and result in huge increases in your water bill.

Remember, leaks, cracks and bursts in water pipes on private property are the owner’s responsibility. To stop these problems, here's what you can do:

1. Proactively check for leaks 2. Think before you plant 3. Dial before you dig

Diagram showing who is responsible for leaks on private property

Check if you have galvanised pipes

Galvanised water pipes are generally found in homes built prior to the mid-1960s. They are made from iron or steel that has a protective zinc coating.

Now is a good time to check their condition, as they are susceptible to corrosion.

More about galvanised pipes

Plumber and lady looking at water meter

More ways to stop problems

4. Holiday checklist

Going on holidays? Before you leave, it’s a good idea to do the following:

Make sure all taps are properly turned off.
Clear leaf litter from downpipes and gutters.
Check your downpipe is correctly connected to stormwater not the sewer.

Turn off the stop tap at the water meter (by turning it clockwise) to stop the water supply to your property (and don’t forget to turn it on when you get back). Make sure this won’t damage any appliances that are reliant on water while you’re away.

Image of water meter show how to turn stop tap on and off

5. Consider installing a pressure-reducing device

If you have an ongoing problem with high water pressure, you may want to consider paying a plumber to install a pressure reducing device.

These devices reduce and stabilise pressure from the mains supply. Unitywater helps to minimise high-pressure problems through its ongoing Leakage reduction program, which also checks pressure in the network.

6. Check the pipe connected to your water meter

How old is the pipe between your house and the water meter? Do you have old pipes that have deteriorated over time due to age, sun exposure or corrosion? Now is a good time to check.

Why is this important?

Unitywater routinely replaces water meters when they are nearing the end of their life cycle. These replacements are preventative maintenance, to ensure the water meter on your property is accurate and in full working order. If we need to replace a water meter on your property, we will try to connect the new water meter to your existing pipes. However, if you have galvanised iron pipes that have corroded, it may not be possible to do so.

In this case, we will run an above-ground polyethylene pipe from the new meter to your building (installation funded by Unitywater). This is only a temporary service and it is the property owner’s responsibility to have a permanent service installed and to fund any associated costs. Under the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002, plumbing and drainage works around your property must be carried out by a licensed plumber.