How to Turn Off Your Water Main in an Emergency

Knowing how to turn off your property’s water main is one of the most valuable things a Melbourne homeowner can know. When a pipe bursts, a flexi hose fails, or you have a serious leak, turning off the main supply fast can be the difference between a minor repair and thousands of dollars of water damage.

Where Is the Water Main Shutoff?

In most Melbourne properties, the main water shutoff valve is located at the water meter. Here’s how to find it:

• Freestanding houses: The water meter is usually in the footpath verge at the front of your property, in a small rectangular concrete or plastic pit in the ground. Lift the cover — you’ll see the meter and the isolation valve beside it.
• Apartments and units: Each unit has an isolation valve inside the meter box, usually near the front door or in a common service area. There will also be a building-wide main shut-off.
• Inside the home: Many Melbourne properties also have an internal isolation valve under the kitchen sink, in the laundry, or near the hot water system. These shut off individual water supply lines rather than the whole property.

How to Turn It Off

The main water shutoff at the meter is typically one of two types:

• Gate valve: Turn clockwise (right) to close. May require multiple full turns. If it hasn’t been turned in years, it may be stiff — use reasonable force but don’t force it so hard you damage it.
• Ball valve: Turn the lever 90° so it’s perpendicular to the pipe. This closes the valve. Takes only a quarter turn.

Once closed, open a tap inside the house to confirm the water has stopped flowing and to relieve any pressure remaining in the pipes.

Do This Now (Before an Emergency)

Don’t wait for an emergency to locate your shutoff. Do it today:

1. Find your water meter pit at the front of your property
2. Check that the isolation valve turns freely (if it’s seized, call a plumber — a seized valve in an emergency means you can’t stop the water)
3. Tell everyone in your household where it is and how to use it
4. Put the meter pit key (if needed) somewhere accessible

What If I Can’t Turn Off the Water?

If the isolation valve is seized, corroded, or broken, call a licensed plumber immediately. In a plumbing emergency while waiting, South East Water’s emergency line can sometimes assist at the street main level. Call 0468 013 012 for emergency plumbing response across Melbourne.