Leaks and Melbourne's water companies
A test for each kind of meter
Yarra Valley Water says a blinking black triangle under the numbers on a digital meter may mean a leak. On a mechanical meter, it suggests reading it, waiting 2 minutes and reading again.
Your side starts at the meter
South East Water looks after the meter and the pipes from the street to it, and Yarra Valley Water repairs the pipe from its main to the meter. From the meter to the house, the pipes are the owner's.
If it's the company's pipe
In Yarra Valley Water's area, if a plumber finds the leak in its pipes and invoices you for the time, it reimburses the reasonable costs of that diagnosis.
High bills have a guideline
Greater Western Water says Victoria's water industry adopted guidelines in 2010 for unexpectedly large bills from unexplained usage or a hidden leak, including a consistent way to calculate rebate allowances.
Test before you book
Turn everything off
Dishwasher, washing machine, sprinklers and evaporative cooler. Greater Western Water says to leave the stop tap at the meter on, and the toilet taps too.
Find and read the meter
At a house it's usually near the front fence. In a unit, look by your front door or in a service cupboard. Write the numbers down or take a photo.
Wait, without using water
Two minutes is a quick check. For the most reliable result, Greater Western Water suggests four to five hours, such as overnight.
Read it again, then repeat
If the numbers have moved, run the test a second time before you call anyone. The same result twice is worth acting on.
Check the usual suspects
Put a few drops of food colouring in each toilet cistern and watch the bowl without flushing. Look for rust, stains or pooling around the hot water unit.
Where the leak is, and who deals with it
| Who fixes it | Good to know | |
|---|---|---|
| At the meter, or on the street side of it | Your water company | Applies in South East Water's and Yarra Valley Water's areas. |
| Between the meter and the house | You, through a plumber | The owner's pipes in both those areas. |
| A private pipe that also supplies other homes | The owners of the properties it supplies | Yarra Valley Water's rule for pipes past the first isolation point from its main. |
| Anywhere, in Greater Western Water's area | Ask Greater Western Water | We haven't confirmed its water pipe rule. |
How a leak specialist narrows it down
A plumber who specialises in leak detection will confirm the leak at the meter, then isolate sections one at a time until the meter stops. Listening equipment and thermal imaging help pinpoint a pipe under a slab or inside a wall, so only one small area needs opening. The national leak detection page explains the tools.
Renting? A fitting or fixture that isn't working and wastes a lot of water is on Victoria's list of urgent repairs, so report it to your rental provider straight away.
Questions for the leak specialist
- Which section did you isolate to prove where the leak is?
- Is it before or after my meter?
- Can I have a written report to show my water company?
- How will I know the repair has held?
What we would do
Run the meter test twice before spending anything. If the meter stays still, the damp patch may be a shower, a roof or a drain, and you need a different kind of help. If it moves, try the food colouring test on each toilet, then bring in a plumber who finds leaks for a living, because the right gear means one opening instead of several. Ask for a written report, and ask your water company what its high bill process needs. A leak detection specialist is who we would match you with.