You or Sydney Water: Who Is Responsible for the Water Pipes, the Meter and the Sewer
Sydney Water owns the water main in the street and the meter at your property. You own the water pipes from the main to your taps, and every sewer pipe from your house up to and including the point where it connects to their sewer. Sydney Water's own responsibility pages say exactly that, and this guide sets out what it means for a leak, a broken meter, a blocked sewer and a tree root, and who to call for each.
Sydney Water repairs a leak between the main and the meter for free if it is within one metre inside your boundary, and it owns the junction on the sewer main. Everything else on the property, water and sewer, is the property owner's, including tree roots at the point of connection. Mr Splash quotes any repair on your side as one fixed price, GST included, and tells you when a fault is Sydney Water's to fix instead.
Licensed & insured · Lic #306457C
Book a plumber for your side of the meterThe Water Supply: Where Sydney Water Stops and You Start
Sydney Water's meter maintenance page puts it in one line: it is responsible for the water main and the water meter, and property owners are responsible for the other pipes.
| Part of the system | Who owns and maintains it | What Sydney Water says |
|---|---|---|
| The water main under the street or footpath | Sydney Water | "Since we own the water main (usually under the street or footpath) and water meter at your property, we'll take care of them." |
| The water meter | Sydney Water | "We own your water meter, so we're responsible for taking care of it." Report a broken or damaged meter on 13 20 90. |
| The pipe between the main and the meter | Property owner, with a courtesy repair | "If there's a problem in your water system between our pipes and the water meter (up to one metre inside your property boundary), we'll repair it for free." |
| The pipes from the meter to the house and the taps | Property owner | "As a property owner, you're responsible for the water pipes and fittings between our water main and the buildings or taps on your property." |
| Taps, valves, hot water system, internal plumbing | Property owner | Everything on the property side is the owner's, including the pressure limiting valve and the hot water system. |
The Sewer: You Own the Connection, They Own the Main
Sydney Water's responsibility-for-repairs page for wastewater is more specific than most people expect, and it puts the point of connection on the owner's side.
| Part of the system | Who owns and maintains it | What Sydney Water says |
|---|---|---|
| All sewer pipes on the property | Property owner | Property owners own all wastewater pipes and fittings up to where they connect to the Sydney Water system, including the point of connection. |
| The point of connection to the main | Property owner | "The property owner is responsible for their connection to our wastewater system (the point of connection)." |
| Tree roots at the point of connection | Property owner | "The property owner is responsible for clearing any tree roots that enter the junction at the point of connection, and any damage to the junction." |
| The junction on the main | Sydney Water, with a carve-out | "We own the junction, but the property owner is responsible for their connection." If the junction itself has failed, Sydney Water may take over the repair after confirming responsibility. |
| Sidelines and the sewer main | Sydney Water | "We own and maintain the sidelines" and may clear blockages from customer inspection points where the fault is theirs. |
| Connections deeper than 2.5 metres | Sydney Water takes over | "If excavation is required to repair a fault at a point of connection... more than 2.5 metres deep, we'll take over the repair." |
Who to Call, Fault by Fault
Water Bubbling Up in the Street or Footpath
The main. Sydney Water, 13 20 90, any hour. Not a plumber.
The Meter Is Leaking, Broken or Missing
Sydney Water, 13 20 90. They own it and replace it. A plumber cannot work on the meter itself.
Wet Ground Between the Meter and the House
Your pipe. A plumber to find and repair the leak. If it turns out to be within a metre of the boundary on the main side, Sydney Water may take it over.
The Meter Turns With Every Tap Off
A leak on your side of the meter. A plumber traces it; Sydney Water may apply a leak allowance to the bill once it is repaired, on application, if the leak was concealed.
Sewer Overflowing at the Gully or Inside the House
A plumber first: the line from the house to the main is yours and it is cleared with a drain machine or jetter. If the camera shows the fault is at the junction on the main, the plumber tells you and Sydney Water is notified.
Sewage Surfacing in the Street or a Neighbour's Yard
Sydney Water, 13 20 90, as well as a plumber if your house is affected. A main or a sideline is their responsibility.
Three Situations That Catch People Out
The connection is yours even when it is under the footpath. Many Sydney sewer connections run under the front lawn and the footpath to a main in the street. The point of connection, and the roots growing into it, are still the owner's responsibility, because Sydney Water's policy draws the line at ownership of the pipe, not at the fence.
Sydney Water may take over a junction failure, but only after the diagnosis. If a blockage is caused by a failed junction on the main, Sydney Water will pay to replace or repair the damaged junction, backfill, reconnect and restore the site, after confirming responsibility. The way it gets confirmed is a licensed plumber clearing the line, running a camera, and documenting where the fault is. That footage and report are what the takeover rests on, so the first call is still a plumber.
A concealed leak can earn a bill adjustment. When a leak on your side of the meter has run up a water bill, Sydney Water considers a leak allowance on application once a licensed plumber has repaired it and can document the repair. Keep the invoice and the plumber's description of the leak.
Backflow Devices and Strata: Two Special Cases
Some properties are required by Sydney Water to have a testable backflow prevention device where the meter connects, to stop water from the property flowing back into the mains. The device is on the property side and is the owner's to install and to have tested each year by an accredited plumber, with the test result lodged with Sydney Water. Commercial premises, properties with irrigation or fire systems, and anything Sydney Water classifies as a medium or high hazard are the usual cases.
In a strata building the same Sydney Water boundary applies at the property line, and then a second boundary applies inside it: between the owners corporation, which owns the common property pipes, and the lot owners, who own the plumbing inside their lots. The strata plumbing guide sets that second boundary out.
Mr Splash Plumbing is licensed for water, drainage and gas work across Greater Sydney under NSW Lic 306457C, quotes every repair on the property side as one fixed price, GST included, and tells you plainly when a fault is Sydney Water's rather than yours.
Sydney Water Responsibility Questions, Answered
Who is responsible for the water pipe from the main to my house?
The property owner, from the water main to the buildings and taps, according to Sydney Water's meter maintenance policy. Sydney Water owns the main and the meter, and will repair a problem between its pipes and the meter for free if it is within one metre inside the property boundary.
Who is responsible for the water meter?
Sydney Water. Its policy states it owns the meter and is responsible for taking care of it. Report a broken, leaking or damaged meter on 13 20 90; a plumber cannot replace the meter itself.
Who is responsible for a blocked sewer on my property?
The property owner owns all wastewater pipes up to and including the point of connection to the Sydney Water main, and is responsible for clearing tree roots at that connection. Sydney Water owns the junction on the main and may take over a repair if the junction itself has failed, or if the connection is deeper than 2.5 metres.
Does Sydney Water fix leaks on my side of the meter?
Only the section between its pipes and the meter, and only up to one metre inside the boundary, as a courtesy repair. Everything from the meter to the house is the owner's, and a licensed plumber repairs it.
Who pays for tree roots in the sewer connection?
The property owner. Sydney Water's responsibility-for-repairs guidance states the owner is responsible for clearing tree roots that enter the junction at the point of connection and for any damage to the junction, even though Sydney Water owns the junction.
Can I get a bill reduction for a water leak?
Sydney Water considers a leak allowance on application for a concealed leak on the property once a licensed plumber has repaired it. Keep the plumber's invoice and description of the leak, and apply after the repair.
Who do I call if water is coming up in the street?
Sydney Water on 13 20 90, at any hour. The main in the street is theirs. If the water is inside your boundary and past the meter, call a plumber.
Related: Water meter repairs · Blocked sewers · Strata plumbing: who pays · Low water pressure
