Water isolation valves disconnect each house from the mains water supply to allow for plumbing maintenance. Also known as stop valves or shut off valves, they should allow the simple shutting off of water to the house when changing tap washers, repairing pipes or taps and when there is a major water leak. Specification should consider the type and location of the water isolation valve.

Survey data show that even teams with the advantage of local knowledge could only find isolation valves in nearly a quarter of the houses surveyed (24 per cent) and, of those valves that were found, 55 per cent were working. Time spent by plumbers searching for isolation valves uses scarce housing maintenance funds.

If plumbers cannot find the isolation valve, they will be forced to manage repairs by either shutting off the main water supply to many houses or attempting to do repairs by reducing the water pressure, which involves opening up all taps in the house requiring maintenance. Both these options are unacceptable.

Data also shows that functioning water meters were only found in 50 per cent of surveyed houses. Regardless of water charges, water management requires basic tools such as isolation valves and water meters to be functioning to allow the housing manager to monitor water use and to assist in completing repairs to the water system of a house.

• Buried water supply valve
• Buried water supply valve
• Leaking water supply valve
• Water supply traditional jumper (or T) valve bind more often in poor quality water.
• No working isolation valve means plumbers have to fix taps with water flowing or disconnect many houses.

Ensure

• B1.7.1.

  there is an easily accessed, above ground isolation valve and water meter, for example fixed to a wall of the house, which cannot get ‘lost’ under landscaping or fencing

• B1.7.2.

  the pipes to and from the water isolation valve and water meter are protected from physical damage by motor cars and mowers

• B1.7.3.

  the type of valve is suited to the water quality.

Consider

• using ball valves, rather than ‘jumper’ or ‘gate’ valves, where water quality is poor
• installing a second valve on houses where the service provider insists on a below ground valve at the property boundary
• selecting water isolation valves that have fixed handles and avoid using anti-vandal valves that do not have a handle
• installing a water meter, regardless of water charging, to assist in water demand management and detecting leaks
• a wall mounted isolation valve above head height.
• if required to be lower for disabled access, then adequately protect the valve to prevent injuries or damage.

Real world examples of Solutions

• Water supply ball valve mounted to wall
• Water supply ball valve
• Water supply ball valve
• Water supply ball valve

• the type of main water isolation valve specified and that it has been correctly installed
  

  When: COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
  DURING CONSTRUCTION
  AT HANDOVER
  FINAL COMPLETION

• the main water isolation valve is located where specified and is secure
  

  When: COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
  DURING CONSTRUCTION
  AT HANDOVER
  FINAL COMPLETION

• the main water isolation valve can be turned on and off and, if it is a jumper valve or gate valve, turn fully on then back one turn to prevent the valve 'binding' shut in the fully open position
  

  When: AT HANDOVER
  FINAL COMPLETION

• that if a main water meter was specified, it has been installed and is working.
  

  When: AT HANDOVER
  FINAL COMPLETION

As part of cyclical maintenance:

• check the water isolation valve can be turned off and on and turn jumper or gate valves fully off, then fully on, and then back one turn
  

  Who : Plumber, Local Maintenance Team

  When : 12 Months

• when the isolation valve is turned off, all water to the house stops flowing
  

  Who : Plumber, Local Maintenance Team

  When : 12 Months

• read the house water meter and record water use and if a house has a high meter reading, ask the plumber to check for leaks.
  

  Who : Local Maintenance Team, Housing Management

  When : 3 Months

AS 4796-2001 : Water supply - Metal bodied and plastic bodied ball valves for property service connection