Please call Muswellbrook Shire Council on 02 6549 3700, any time of the day.

Water shut off times will vary, depending on many factors. In all cases, water is restored as soon as possible.

Planned works are always notified in writing and any variation to these times will be advised.

Water main shut downs in cases of emergency are advised by the operators assigned to the job.

Check our Service Interruptions page for known works.

Variations in water pressure can have many causes. Please call Muswellbrook Shire Council on 02 6549 3700 to report the problem and our staff will pressure test the water main near your house in order to diagnose the issue if necessary.

In an emergency situation, it is not always possible to notify residents beforehand. In the event of a major water main break, the priority is to shut off the water to ensure the safety of staff and public, to reduce damage to roads, footpaths and other infrastructure, and to save water. If the repairs require the water to be shut off for an extended period, operators will perform a door knock to notify residents.

Council is responsible for the supply of quality drinking water to the water meter only.

Reasons for dirty water vary and can include recent breaks that loosen particles on the pipe walls, old and rusty galvanised steel services which may need replacement, or illegal access to hydrants allowing pressure surges to scour the main. Episodes of dirty water should be reported to Council by calling 02 6549 3700 immediately. Residents are the eyes and ears of Council, so if you are experiencing this issue please report it so that operators can investigate and rectify the problem.

You should contact Council to report the issue and operators will be sent to investigate. If it is determined your water meter is not functioning correctly, a replacement will be installed.

Regular reading and recording of water meter reads will assist you in managing your water usage. For further information, check out our Water Wise article: About Your Water Meter.

Report details of the vehicle to Council immediately. The only authorised people who can take water directly from a hydrant are Council Water & Wastewater staff and NSW Fire Services. If you are interested in purchasing bulk water please contact Council on 02 6549 3700.

The Plumbing Code of Australia requires that meters are maintained at 300mm above ground level. If you have completed landscaping that puts your meter below this level you should talk to Council about having it raised as soon as possible.

Generally, if you have no water and have not received any notification, it will be because of an unplanned supply interruption. Reasons for this can include burst water mains or services or even damage to mains caused by third parties.

Priorities are required to be set to ensure public safety and to preserve water. This may mean in some instances residents will not receive any notification of shutdowns. However, Council aims to keeps residents informed of these situations wherever possible and to keep interruptions to a minimum.

You can check our Service Interruptions page to see whether the interruption has been planned or already reported, or a call to Council on 02 6549 3700 will generally provide the answer to the problem you are experiencing.

You should contact Council to have this rectified as the service up to and including the meter is Council’s responsibility.

Council requires all water meters installed after 1/07/2008 to have backflow prevention devices fitted.

Please contact Council in writing for a quote. The meter can generally be moved along the property boundary but not beyond 1m into the property. Relocations will also depend on the location of the underground water main.

Contact Council as soon as possible and advise that you have been granted occupation and quote your final occupation certificate number.

Council offers a 24-hour emergency service line on 02 6549 3700. An afterhours service will take your call and refer details to the on-call operators.

Council’s Water and Wastewater department is not generally responsible for stormwater emitted from residences. If water is running out of your stormwater pipes, you should investigate for any leaks on your property.

Muswellbrook and Denman town water supply is fluoridated. Sandy Hollow water supply is not fluoridated at this time.

Council officers will sometimes require access to properties where no issue has been reported.

In the case of sewer, it could mean that there is a blockage further up or down stream and the best access chamber to clear the problem is located in your property.

In the case of water, it could mean that the water meter is due to be replaced under Council’s meter management program.

Council’s operators will notify you of their need to access your property if you are home.

The number of staff allocated to a task is determined by the type of work that it involves after the development of a safe work method statement and assessment of the risks involved. Issues that need to be considered include risk, work health and safety, traffic control, contingency etc. It could also mean that the person in the hole had to complete a task before the team can move onto the next step in the process or that machine operators or management staff are also on site, or there are junior staff attending to learn techniques. Council is absolutely committed to providing a cost effective and efficient service to the community it serves.

The time taken to make repairs varies according to the priority and complexity of the task. Council’s first priority is to supply quality drinking water and a fully functional sewer system to its residents. These take priority over any programmed works.

There are varying reasons for problems occurring with Council’s infrastructure. It is important to report any issues to Council as soon as possible so an investigation can be carried out. Reporting the issues will also ensure that details are recorded and a history is created for the property. This will assist in our management program for your area.

Some issues can be reported by logging in to Council’s online service portal, My Hub; however, water-related issues require urgent attention and should be called through to Council’s 24-hour phone line on 02 6549 3700.

Council is responsible for water and sewer mains and their respective service lines only. Generally, there is no direct cost to the resident for replacement or repairs to this infrastructure; however, Council does have the legal option under the Local Government Act to recover the cost of repairs if damage was the result of negligence by the property owner/resident. Council will generally not carry out work on private services or pipe work.

Please contact Council immediately on 02 6549 3700 to organise for an operator to attend. If you or anyone visiting your property damages the water meter, the repair costs are charged to the property owner/resident.