Water Main Replacement Program

Goulburn Valley Water has a rolling program to replace ageing infrastructure susceptible to ground movement and cracks leading to leaks.

Water main replacement is an ongoing asset management program designed to ensure continuity of supply and a high level of service. Determining which mains are due for replacement is done by looking at the condition of the main and its history of failures. Usually, replacement is triggered if the main experiences three failures in 12 months.

The program is part of our five year Water Plan outlined to the Essential Services Commission. More than $13 million will be spent upgrading water mains during the 2023-28 period. New water mains are constructed from a selection of modern pipe materials such as unplasticised polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene and ductile iron.

Works generally take 3 - 8 weeks to complete, depending on the length of pipe and the complexity of the job. During this time there are only very short periods (usually about two hours) when customers’ supply is interrupted, usually when the new main is being commissioned.

What do I do if I am affected by works?

If your property is identified as part of a planned water supply interruption, we'll send you an SMS if we have your phone number (you may also receive a paper notice too). Sometimes, we may experience unplanned water outages during works if sections of the pipes burst unexpectedly - we'll aim to let you know about these outages when they happen as well.

If you're notified of a planned interruption, we recommend that you store water in containers for drinking and cooking and fill your sink or bathtub with water for washing or flushing the toilet to minimise any inconvenience. You should also turn off any appliance that uses water.

When the water supply is restored or if you are experiencing dirty water or pressure fluctuations, please run a tap at the rear of your property for a few minutes or until it runs clear. For more information, you can phone our 24/7 Customer Support Centre on 1800 454 500.

2023/24 works program