Make the area safe
Keep people away from sagging ceilings, wet electrical equipment and slippery floors. Where water is near electrical installations, do not touch affected equipment and arrange safe electrical isolation by a competent person.
Isolate water where possible
Use the nearest known isolation valve that safely stops the flow. If it does not work, move upstream to the main supply. Avoid forcing old valves because a broken valve can worsen the incident.
Protect and record
Move movable contents out of the water path, contain water where practical, and take photographs showing the source and affected areas before major cleanup. Then give the attending plumber a concise description of what happened and what has already been isolated.
Related information
After-Hours Plumbing Emergency Checklist
The immediate objective is usually to protect people, limit water release and preserve useful information for the repair team.
Burst Flexible Hose
Flexible connectors can release large volumes of water quickly, so safe isolation and damage limitation come first.
Burst Pipe Repairs
A burst or split pipe requires rapid isolation first, followed by a repair suited to the pipe material, failure point and surrounding condition.
Emergency Plumbing
Urgent leaks, burst pipes and uncontrolled water can cause expensive secondary damage. The first priority is to make the situation safe and stop the water where possible.