What to do if my water pressure changes?
What to do if my water pressure changes?
What affects my water pressure?
Water pressure can vary depending on several factors, including:
- Your location on a hill (pressure may differ at the top versus the bottom).
- Distance from the nearest reservoir, storage tank, or water main.
- Planned maintenance works or unexpected issues such as main breaks.
It’s normal for water pressure to fluctuate across South Australia due to differences in terrain and infrastructure.
What should I do if my water pressure is too low?
Follow these steps:
- Check, or ask a plumber to check your property’s plumbing:
- Ensure the internal stop tap is fully open (if installed).
- Inspect for a faulty Pressure Limiting Valve (PLV). These are common in homes built after 2005.
- Look for possible leaks. Use this guide to locate leaks on your property.
- Check for outages:
- Visit the faults and outages page for any current or planned disruptions in your area.
- Subscribe to outage notifications to stay updated.
- If you have had an outage in your area, wait for the pressure to return to normal levels once you are notified the outage is resolved.
- Measure your water flow rate:
- Use the steps outlined below to test water flow at home (minimum 27 litres per minute is expected).
If the issue persists, you can report a fault using our online Faults and outages map or by calling 1300 SA WATER (1300 729 283).
How do I measure my water flow at home?
To ensure your water flow meets the standard, follow these steps:
- Turn off all water-using devices (like washing machines and dishwashers).
- Locate your water meter and note the three red numbers displayed.
- Turn on your front garden tap fully for exactly one minute.
- Record the new meter reading and subtract the initial reading from it.
If the flow is 27 litres per minute or more, your water pressure is adequate. If it is less, contact us.
What should I do if my water pressure is too high?
- Sometimes high-water pressure or a sudden change in water pressure due to maintenance work can result in a hammering noise in your pipes. If you have had an outage in your area, wait for the pressure to return to normal levels once you are notified the outage is resolved.
- Homes built after November 2005 are required to have a Pressure Limiting Valve (PLV) installed if water pressure exceeds 500 kPa.
- If your home was built before 2005, and your water pressure is above 500 kPa, we recommend hiring a licensed plumber to install a PLV to protect your pipes and appliances.
What are SA Water’s responsibilities regarding water pressure?
- We follow the Water Services Association of Australia WSA 03-2011 code, which sets standards for acceptable water pressure.
- According to our Customer Contract (Section 7.2 – Water Reliability), we are committed to providing a flow rate that meets customer needs.
Need help?
If you have concerns about your water pressure or need to report a fault, please:
- Read more about water pressure and SA Water’s infrastructure.
- Report online using our Faults and outages map.
- Call us at 1300 SA WATER (1300 729 283).
