Whose problem is it in Ballarat?
Central Highlands Water
It supplies water to the greater Ballarat region. A burst main in the street, or no water at all, is the first call to make, on the number on your bill.
City of Ballarat
Council manages the drains in roads and reserves, more than 500 km of them. Flooding from a blocked street drain is Council's to clear.
You
Council says the drains on your property are yours to maintain, and so are the water pipes and fittings inside your home.
Your landlord
31.6% of homes in the City of Ballarat's area were rented at the 2021 Census. Renters should tell the landlord or agent straight away.
Do this first
Close the stop tap
It's beside the water meter, usually near the front boundary. Turn it clockwise as far as it goes.
Think about electricity
If water has reached power points, light fittings or the switchboard, stay out of it and switch off at the board only from somewhere dry.
Gas smell? Get out first
Energy Safe Victoria says to turn the gas off at the meter or cylinder only if it's safe, put out flames and avoid electrical switches. Ring the emergency number on your gas bill once you're outside, or 000 for a fire.
Sewage overflow
Stop flushing and running taps. Check the grated gully outside: if sewage is spilling there, it's working as designed and keeping it out of the house.
Cold nights and gas heaters
Energy Safe Victoria notes that Victorian winters can be very cold, which is when gas heaters work hardest. If a heater's flame changes from its usual colour, it says a qualified gasfitter must inspect it and check for carbon monoxide leakage. Turn it off and ventilate the room until then.
Don't run a kitchen rangehood or bathroom fan while an open-flued gas heater is on. Energy Safe Victoria says that can draw carbon monoxide into living spaces. Our Ballarat gas fitter page covers heater safety in more detail.
Sewer blockages and Central Highlands Water
A plumber can tell you where a sewer blockage sits, but not every blockage is yours. We couldn't read Central Highlands Water's rules on where its sewer responsibility ends, so if the plumber finds the problem near the boundary or in the main, call Central Highlands Water before more work is done.
Licences still matter at 2am
An urgent job is still licensed work. Ask for the plumber's full name and registration or licence number and check it with the BPC on the state's licence register. In Victoria, only a licensed plumber can issue a compliance certificate.
Walk away if you see these
- A demand for half the price before any work. Consumer Affairs Victoria warned in 2025 about urgent jobs priced in the thousands with deposits of usually 50%.
- No written quote, or a refusal to show a licence card.
- Pressure to agree to a full replacement in the middle of the night.
What we would do
Get the water or gas off, then breathe. With the supply off, most jobs can wait an hour for a plumber who does urgent work every week, and that's usually better than the first number that answers. If the problem is in the street or the main, it belongs to Central Highlands Water or Council, so call them before you pay anyone. Ask how after-hours work is charged before the plumber starts.