Water
Although overseen by the Gosford/Wyong Councils’ Water, Wyong Council is responsible to operate and maintain the system and respond to and resolve any customer issues.
The type of issues that Council deals with on a day to day basis are:
If you have a complaint about water and sewer services in Wyong Shire please phone Wyong Shire Council's Customer Contact on (02) 4350 5555 or you can lodge your complaint online.
If you are not satisfied with Council’s response to a complaint you can lodge a complaint with the Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON). EWON provide an independent dispute resolution service that is free of charge to you. For more information you can call EWON on 1800 246 545.
Water restrictions
The use of town water is restricted in Wyong Shire. See exactly what's permitted - and what isn't.
For more information about water restrictions and other water savings tips see the Gosford/Wyong Councils Water Authority website.
Discoloured water
From time to time the water’s colour or appearance can change. Sometimes it can take on a yellow, rust or brown tint to almost black, other times it can appear milky white or blue. This is known as discoloured water.
Yellow to rust or reddish/brown and black water - usually caused by minerals such as iron and manganese. While these elements are always present in the water in extremely low levels, an increase in temperature, exposure to soil or dirt or changes to the chemistry of the water can cause them to become visible and discolour the water.
Reddish/brown water - ageing pipes and fittings that are not cement lined can corrode, causing the water to discolour.
Milky or white water - occurs when air becomes trapped in the pipes, usually after a main break has been repaired or from faulty pumps and air valves. It is harmless and will not stain your laundry.
Blue stains in the water - may be caused by corrosion of internal plumbing. This is common if the hot water cylinder is made from copper.
Discoloured water can also occur as a result of water main breaks, changes to system operations, construction and maintenance work, daily and seasonal variations in demand or fire fighting.
If you have a load of washing and the clothes are stained from discoloured water keep them wet and phone customer contact. Letting them dry will set the stains. When the water clears you can try rewashing with clean water. If clothes are still stained keep them for inspection to verify damage.
In most cases discoloured water is safe to drink. Water is tested weekly by the NSW Department of Health to ensure it meets Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
To clear discoloured water run the front garden tap into a bucket for up to 30 seconds to check the colour of the water. If it is not clear, repeat this half hourly until clear. Once the water in the front tap is clear, residents should clear the inside water lines. To do this run the back garden tap into a bucket until the water is clear. Water collected during this process may be used on gardens.
Find out more about the causes of discoloured water and what you can do
Water meter leaks
Council looks after water meter leaks on the Council (street) side of the tap. For leaks on the property side of the tap contact your plumber. To install or relocate your water meter you need to complete an application form and pay a fee.
If you’re unsure whether the water meter leak is on Council’s or your side of the tap take note of the numbers on the water and don’t use any water for a few hours. Good times for this is overnight and during the day while you’re out of the house. If the numbers on the water meter have increased the leak is on your side of the tap. This is a great method to check for other internal leaks also.
Water rates
Water and sewer charges are levied separately by Gosford City and Wyong Shire Councils.
Domestic water and sewer service charges are part of your regular land rates issued in late July/early August. Water use charges are issued separately with the charge set by IPART.
Water charges are formally set as part of Council’s 2010-11 Annual Plan.
For additional information on water consumption, take a look at our rates pages.
Saving water
Residential properties are responsible for around 78 per cent of water consumption on the Central Coast. There are lots of things you can do to help save water in and around your home. Take a look at our Living Water Smart brochures in pdf or HTML for more information:
Some simple water saving behaviours can make a difference. You can be water smart by:
- Taking shorter showers
- Using the toilet half flush
- Using a bucket to collect grey water from your shower of bathtub to use on the garden
- Using native and drought tolerant plants in your garden
- Using mulch on your garden bed to prevent water evaporation
- Using a pool cover to reduce water evaporation
- Checking for leaks on tape, pipes and fittings.
For more information about saving water and rebates that are offered to help you save water see the Gosford/Wyong Councils’ Water website