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Water pressure and flow rates

Water pressure and flow rates

Understanding water pressure and flow rates in north-east Victoria

Water pressure at your home or business can be influenced by several factors, including your location and the surrounding landscape. For instance, properties situated at the top or bottom of a hill may experience different pressure levels. Additionally, the distance from a storage tank or water main can also impact water pressure.

Variations in water pressure are common across our service region. This is due to the diverse local terrain and the range of infrastructure we use to deliver water through our network. Because we operate gravity-fed systems, pressure levels naturally fluctuate. As a result, we cannot guarantee specific minimum or maximum water pressure levels.

Our responsibilities

Under our Customer Charter, we are committed to delivering water supplies that meet essential standards for flow rates. Flow rates are measured at the water meter or the tap closest to the meter assembly. Most residential properties are serviced by a 20mm water meter, and we ensure a minimum flow rate of 10 litres per minute, with some important exceptions:

  • Property Infrastructure Condition: If a property owner's infrastructure is in poor condition or insufficient, it may impact the flow rate.
  • Extended Private Water Supply Works: Properties serviced through extended private water supply works may experience different flow conditions.
  • Drought or Emergency Situations: Water flow may be impacted during severe droughts or emergency conditions.
  • Peak Summer Demand: During times of high demand, especially in summer, water shortages may affect flow rates.
  • Interruptions: Both planned and unplanned service interruptions may temporarily alter flow conditions.
  • Reclaimed Water Supply: Availability of reclaimed water may be reduced if there is a shortage or in accordance with permitted use guidelines.
  • Supply Restrictions: Water supply can be restricted or disconnected in line with the Customer Charter, the Water Act 1989 (Vic), or the Water Industry Act 1994 (Vic).
Minimum flow rates by meter size

The following minimum flow rates (at the meter) apply to standard meter sizes for property owners' infrastructure:

Diameter of Property Owner’s Infrastructure

Minimum Flow Rate (Litres per Minute)

20mm (most residential properties) 

10

25mm

14

32mm

24

40mm

40

50mm

60


Measuring your water flow at home

We aim to provide a minimum of 10 litres of water per minute at your water meter. You can test your water flow rate by following these steps:

  1. Turn off all taps and water-using devices such as washing machines or dishwashers.
  2. Find the garden tap closest to your water meter, usually located at the front of your property.
  3. Using a 10 litre bucket, fully turn on the garden tap and use a stopwatch or timer to measure how long it takes to fill the bucket to the 10-litre mark.
  4. To calculate the flow rate, divide 10 litres by the number of seconds it took to fill the bucket to get the flow rate in litres per second. Multiply this number by 60 to convert it to litres per minute.
  5. If you receive at least 10 litres a minute or more from your front garden tap, you have an adequate water flow.

If you believe you are receiving less than this or have noticed your water pressure has significantly changed, please call our Customer Service team on 1300 361 622 and we can investigate.

Watch this video to see how to conduct a water flow bucket test