Port Stephens water and sewer, by area
The peninsula drinks from the sand
Hunter Water says the Tomaree Sandbeds, mostly under Tomaree National Park, are the main water source for the Tomaree Peninsula, where Anna Bay, Nelson Bay, Fingal Bay and Shoal Bay sit. Water drawn from the Tomago Sandbeds east of Lemon Tree Passage is treated at a separate plant there and piped to Karuah, Lemon Tree Passage and Tanilba Bay.
Hardness changes by plant
Hunter Water's figures for June 2020 to May 2025 give median hardness of 17.1 mg/L from its Nelson Bay plant, 60.9 mg/L from Anna Bay and 68.0 mg/L from Lemon Tree Passage, all well under the 200 mg/L mark its table notes.
Four treatment works
Boulder Bay serves Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay, Corlette, Salamander Bay, Anna Bay, Boat Harbour and nearby bays. Tanilba Bay serves Lemon Tree Passage, Mallabula and Tanilba Bay; Karuah has its own works; and Raymond Terrace takes Raymond Terrace, Medowie and part of Heatherbrae.
Many homes owned outright
In the Port Stephens Council area at the 2021 Census, 41.2% of occupied homes were owned outright, against 31.5% for NSW, and 24.8% were rented. 80.9% were separate houses and 1.6% other dwellings.
Hot water on the peninsula
Water hardness matters to hot water tanks and heat pumps, and the figures above give you the numbers for your area rather than a guess. Whatever the water, NSW rules require a temperature control device whenever a hot water heater is replaced, even like for like. Make sure it's in the quote. Start at Newcastle hot water.
Sewer and stormwater: who to call
Hunter Water owns the sewer mains. Your part runs from the house to where your pipes join its system, the boundary trap and inspection shaft included. If sewage rises out of the shaft, Hunter Water says to stop using the toilets and contact it, because the cause may be in its network.
For rain, Hunter Water splits the job three ways: Port Stephens Council handles street and kerbside drains, Hunter Water the large concrete channels, and you everything on your land, from gutters to yard drains. For flood information and controls, the NSW Government points residents to Port Stephens Council's flooding page.
What we would do
Check which Hunter Water plant serves your town before replacing a hot water system, and give the plumber the hardness figure for it. For drains, find your inspection shaft first and keep it clear: it's easy to lose under landscaping, and it's the quickest way to tell whether a blockage is yours or Hunter Water's.
Port Stephens towns
Town pages cover Raymond Terrace and Medowie. For the job, see blocked drains, gas fitting or an emergency plumber. Only the plumber who takes your job gets your contact details.