A pipe has burst

What to do, in order

1. Turn off the water at the stop tap - the main tap next to your water meter. Turn it clockwise to close.
2. If it's stuck, turn it slightly anticlockwise first to break the seal, then clockwise.
3. If you still can't turn it off, call your water corporation's faults line. In Melbourne that's Yarra Valley Water, South East Water or Greater Western Water; elsewhere, it's the one that sends your water bill.
4. Work out where the leak is. On the house side of the meter, it's the owner's to fix with a licensed plumber. At the meter, the stop tap or on the street side, the water corporation fixes it.
5. Water gushing in the street or from a burst main? Call your water corporation.
6. Contact your insurer about any damage to the house.

Who to call

Electricity, gas and water faults go to whoever owns the network in your street, so only one of these regional numbers is yours. It is also printed on your bill.

• Yarra Valley Water (faults, 24/7) 13 27 62

  Burst main or gushing water, a leak at the meter or street side, you can't turn off your stop tap, no water, or a sewer overflow or blockage in the network.

  Covers: Melbourne's northern and eastern suburbs

• South East Water (faults and emergencies, 24/7) 132 812

  Burst main or gushing water, a leak at the meter or street side, you can't turn off your stop tap, no water, or a sewer overflow or blockage in the network.

  Covers: Melbourne's south-east

• Greater Western Water (faults and emergencies, 24/7) 13 44 99

  Burst main or gushing water, a leak at the meter or street side, you can't turn off your stop tap, no water, or a sewer overflow or blockage in the network.

  Covers: Melbourne and its western region

When you need a plumber

Call a licensed plumber for any leak or burst on your side of the meter, garden taps included. If the plumber finds the fault is in the water corporation's pipes, Yarra Valley Water says it will reimburse reasonable diagnosis costs. Renting? A burst water service is a legally urgent repair: call your rental provider or agent on the emergency number you were given and confirm it in writing.