Extreme weather and bushfire update - January 2026

Do Not Drink Advisory
Following consultation with the Department of Health, we are advising customers in Harcourt and some areas south of Harcourt to not drink tap water until further notice. To see if you are impacted, click here to view the map area. 

A drinking water trailer is now available at Rodilesa Nursery Harcourt, on the corner of Blackjack Road and Midland Highway. If you have experienced a water outage or Do Not Drink advisory, you can fill your own drink bottles or other suitable containers here at any time. Please only take what you need.  

We are aware Harcourt residents are still evacuated due to an active fire in the township. We recognise this has been a distressing time for the community. While we do not wish to add to your burden, we want to let you know that the local water supply has been compromised.

Once safe to do so, our teams will access the site, repair the damage and restore safe drinking water. As we begin these repairs, some customers may experience intermittent water supply. Even if water is available at your property, it is not safe to drink while the advisory remains in place.

Information has been provided to customers via Emergency Vic. Advice and regular updates will be provided to customers via regular SMS messages (where details are available) and on Facebook.
Further information about the Do Not Drink Advisory is available here.
If you have questions or need help, please contact us on 1300 363 200.

Taste and odour issues.
Your water is safe to drink. Customers in Bridgewater, Inglewood and Leitchville may be experiencing changes in the taste and odour of their water. 
We want to assure you that your water is being regularly tested and remains safe to drink. 
We appreciate this is not ideal, and we are working quickly to ensure it is back to normal as soon as possible.

Rural channel water quality. 

An active bushfire in our region is impacting many of our customers, and we are working hard to maintain continuity of water supply while monitoring the situation closely. 
During bushfires, firefighting activities can affect water supplies and the natural environment, as large volumes of water, sometimes used alone or mixed with foams or fire retardants, may enter local waterways and impact water quality. 
Due to the location of our rural channel system, there is a possibility that some orders may not be supplied and that water quality cannot be guaranteed during this period. 
If you have any questions, please contact our rural team on 1300 761 738 weekdays between 7am - 2:30pm, or email coliban@coliban.com.au 

Customers in some parts of our network may experience low water pressure during peak usage periods, particularly when everyone is using water at the same time.
During bushfires, firefighters may draw water from fire hydrants, which can also cause temporary drops in pressure.
We use text messages, our website, and social media to keep customers informed when extreme weather or bushfire conditions may impact water supply.
Customers can update their contact details at www.coliban.com.au/manage-your-account/update-your-details or call 1300 363 200.

Power is required to operate our sewer systems. During power outages, some systems may stop working, which can result in sewer spills to the environment.
While we are committed to protecting the environment and work hard to minimise the risk of spills, these incidents can be unavoidable during extreme conditions. This does not impact sewer services at your home.
If you encounter a sewer spill, please report it immediately by calling our 24/7 emergency and faults line on 1300 363 200.