Central Coast water and sewer · Point 2 of 5: the main

When the water goes off on the Central Coast

Start with Central Coast Council’s water outages map, which you can search by address for current interruptions, with emergency works and planned maintenance shown by their own icons and updates on restoration times. While the water is off, Council asks you to keep taps closed and avoid appliances that need water; when it comes back, open the cold taps slowly.

General information from Central Coast Council’s water outages page and its guide to maintenance and repairs, not advice about a particular property. Council’s outage map is the place to check.

Two kinds of outage

Council’s outages page separates the urgent from the scheduled, and its map marks each with its own icon.

Emergency works

Urgent repairs that keep the water and sewer systems safe and reliable. Council lists burst pipes, sewer spills, and water bubbling up or leaking among them.

Planned maintenance

Work Council schedules regularly, to head off unexpected outages and keep the water service high in quality. During it you may find no water, low pressure or discoloured water.

Its general section on what to expect during any outage lists the same three: no water, low water pressure or discoloured water. Council adds that major updates may also go up on its Facebook page.

Before, during and after

The outages page gives two short lists, one for while the water is off and one for when it returns.

  1. Before and during the outageKeep the taps closed. Avoid using appliances that depend on water; Council gives washing machines and hot water systems as examples.
  2. When the water is back onOpen the cold taps slowly, so trapped air can escape.
  3. If it comes back discolouredStill under its heading for after the water is restored, Council says to run your front garden tap for 60 seconds every 30 minutes until the water runs clear.

None of that asks you to touch the plumbing itself: keeping taps closed, holding off on water-using appliances, opening the cold taps slowly and running the front garden tap are the whole of Council’s list.

If it is not on the map

The map is not the only way in. If you have a water problem it does not show, the outages page offers an online service request. Under its emergency works heading, the page puts it this way: if you notice an issue that is not listed, report it, or call Council immediately on 02 4306 7900.

The main, or your own pipes?

When a problem is not a listed outage, Council’s guide to maintenance and repairs has a page headed for a leak or discoloured water. It says the problem may be Council’s responsibility if:

  • it is visible outside your property boundary
  • your neighbours are having the same problem
  • your water meter or meter tap is leaking.

In those cases the guide asks you to contact Council immediately, and if there is property damage or a loss, to contact your insurer as soon as you can too. It also says what Council does not compensate for here: lost time, lost business, or water lost through a leaking or broken meter or a broken water main, and the cost of a licensed plumber you brought in privately, even when the problem turns out to be Council’s responsibility.

The split itself sits at the point of connection, beside the meter. Council looks after the meter, the meter tap and the pipes leading to your point of connection, and the owner looks after everything from there into the property. Whose pipe is it? covers that line in full.

Where the water in the main comes from

Council treats the region’s water at plants at Somersby and Mardi, and at a third plant at Woy Woy that treats water from groundwater bore fields in that area. The Hunter Connection, a pipeline that runs both ways, brings in extra water for operational reasons or during drought, for the Central Coast and for the Hunter. Further back still, the dams set the water restriction levels, and out on the sewer side, Blocked sewers covers sewer spills and overflows.

Once the water is back, a problem that sits on your side of the point of connection is the owner’s: Council’s guide says a water leak, or a problem with your plumbing, water tank or hot water system, means engaging a licensed plumber, at your own cost.