Problems with water quality or pressure
Vancouver's water system is large and complex, and you may sometimes experience problems with the water quality or pressure in your home or business.
If you are experiencing a problem with water quality or water pressure, the City would like to help you to locate the source of the problem, and will fix problems on the public part of the system.
Follow this guide to determine the next steps in resolving problems with water quality and pressure. In certain instances where you are advised to Call a plumber, you may be able to repair the problem yourself.
| Type of problem |
Call 3-1-1 |
Call a plumber |
| Cloudy or brown water from your taps or your neighbour's taps (called turbidity), which doesn't clear up even after cold water taps are run for 15 minutes |
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| Water discoloured, has a poor taste, or smell |
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| No water flowing from all taps in your home or in your neighbours' homes |
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| Sudden drop in water pressure in your entire home, and several neighbours are affected |
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| Low water pressure or no water flowing from any taps in your home, and none of your neighbours are affected |
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| Sudden high water pressure |
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| Excessively hot water, or no hot water at all |
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| Low water pressure in only one faucet, tap, or fixture |
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| Water does not work in one area of your home, or water pipes may be frozen |
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When you call 3-1-1 to request a City crew to investigate a water quality or pressure problem:
- For non-emergencies, only a property owner, and not a tenant, can request the City to dispatch a crew
- Charges may apply if the problem is not caused by the City water system
- Someone who can approve the possibility that the City may charge for the service call will need to be on site to let the crew in when they arrive
Fees
| Days of week |
Time of day |
Call type |
Call-out charge |
| 7 days a week |
7:00am to 6:30pm |
Regular |
$50.00 |
| 7 days a week, excluding statutory holidays |
6:30pm to 7:00am |
Emergency |
$200.00 |
| Statutory holidays |
24 hours per day |
Emergency |
$200.00 |
Prices include tax.
NOTE: The City covers the cost of repairing water leaks and floods on City property. If the City determines the cause of the leak or flood is on private property, the property owner will be sent an invoice to cover the charges. The charges are based on the information in the table above.
NOTE: The City does not perform work on private property.
Appointment hours
| Days of week |
Time of day |
| Monday to Friday |
7:30am to 6:00pm |
| Saturday and Sunday |
8:30am to 6:00pm |
| Statutory holidays |
No appointments booked. All calls are treated as emergency callouts. |
