Water Shutoff Notice for Residents — Free Template

Looking for a water shutoff notice template in English? Here is a ready-to-use notice for a planned water shutoff in an Israeli apartment building (va’ad bayit / building committee) — copy it with one click, print it for the lobby notice board, or download it as a Word file. Fill in the details in the square brackets and a tidy notice is ready in under a minute.

Fill in the details — the notice text updates automatically:

Notice to Residents — Planned Water Shutoff   Dear residents,   On [Date], between [Start time] and [End time], the water supply in the building will be shut off for [Reason].   Before the shutoff, we recommend: – filling bottles in advance with water for drinking and cooking; – not running the washing machine or dishwasher during the shutoff; – closing any taps left open, to prevent flooding when the supply resumes.   When the water comes back, you may notice temporary cloudiness and low pressure — let the water run for about a minute before use.   Questions: [Contact name], tel. [Phone].   Thank you for your patience and cooperation, The building committee (va'ad bayit), [Building address]
Illustration of a notice board at the entrance of a residential building with a prominent notice carrying a water-drop symbol

How to write a water shutoff notice — and what it must include

A planned water shutoff notice is customarily posted at least 48 hours in advance — on the notice board at the entrance and in the residents’ WhatsApp group — so everyone can prepare: storing water, postponing laundry, and organizing families with small children. For an especially long shutoff, post earlier and add a short reminder on the morning of the work.

Make sure the notice includes four details: the date, the exact hours, the reason for the shutoff, and a contact person for questions. An incomplete notice generates dozens of unnecessary phone calls to committee members on the day itself. It’s also worth adding short preparation tips and a note about temporary cloudiness and low pressure when the water returns — the most common complaints after the supply resumes.

Who is responsible for what? When the building initiates the shutoff — for example replacing the main riser, fixing a pump, or stairwell works — the building committee (va’ad bayit) is responsible for notifying residents and is the address for questions. When the municipal water corporation initiates it, attach the corporation’s announcement number or link so residents can verify the information and follow updates. Either way, posting a proper notice in advance is the difference between a calm morning and a morning of phone calls.

Water shutoff checklist — before, during and after

Planned Water Shutoff — Checklist   Before the shutoff: ☐ Store drinking and cooking water — 3-4 liters per person per day ☐ Fill buckets or large pots for flushing toilets ☐ Switch off the electric water heater (dud) ☐ Don't start a washing-machine or dishwasher cycle that won't finish before the shutoff ☐ Keep water within easy reach for the elderly, babies and pets   During the shutoff: ☐ Close any taps left open — to prevent flooding when the water returns ☐ Avoid running the washing machine, dishwasher and water heater ☐ Update the residents if the work runs longer than planned   After the water returns: ☐ Run cold water for 2-3 minutes at every tap to clear sediment and air ☐ Check the water meter — if it spins with all taps closed, there may be a leak ☐ Check pressure and water quality — slight cloudiness should clear shortly ☐ Turn the water heater back on only after the supply is back

Residents’ rights during a water shutoff

When the water corporation initiates the shutoff, the duty to notify rests with the corporation: the Water and Sewage Corporations Rules (Service Standards), 5771-2011 (Hebrew, gov.il) require the corporation to notify consumers in advance of a planned shutoff, to limit it in time, and to minimize the impact on consumers. A shutoff for an urgent repair that cannot wait is exempt from advance notice — but even then the corporation must work to restore the supply as quickly as possible.

During a prolonged shutoff — planned or sudden — the corporation cannot simply disappear: under the Water Authority’s guidelines, in especially long shutoffs it must arrange an alternative water supply for residents, for example through distribution points. If the shutoff in your area runs longer than announced, call the corporation’s hotline (phone numbers in the table further down this page) and ask for an updated time estimate and details of the alternative supply.

No answer? The complaints route is tiered: first contact the water corporation’s hotline in writing and keep a record. If the complaint is not handled, you can turn to the Water Authority’s public-complaints unit (Hebrew, gov.il), which is authorized to investigate consumer complaints against the corporations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far in advance should residents be notified of a water shutoff?

There is no legal obligation on the building committee, but the accepted practice is at least 48 hours for a planned shutoff. The longer the shutoff, the earlier you should post — and add a reminder on the morning of the work.

What must a water shutoff notice include?

The date, start and end hours, the reason for the shutoff, preparation tips (storing water, avoiding laundry) and contact details. It’s also worth adding a note about temporary cloudiness when the water returns.

Do we need a notice for a short one-hour shutoff too?

Yes. Even a short cutoff catches residents mid-shower or mid-laundry. A short message in the residents’ group and on the board saves complaints.

Who notifies residents when the water corporation initiates the shutoff?

When the municipal water corporation initiates the shutoff, it must publish advance notice under the Water and Sewage Corporations Rules. It is still recommended that the building committee duplicate the notice on the board and in the residents’ group, and attach the corporation’s announcement number or a link to its website — so residents can verify the information and follow updates.

What do we do when the shutoff runs longer than planned?

Post a short update to the residents as soon as it becomes clear the work is running over, with a new time estimate. In an especially long shutoff, coordinate an alternative water supply with the contractor or the corporation, and document the event in writing — it prevents disputes with tradespeople and residents later.

How much water should we store before a planned shutoff?

The accepted recommendation, similar to the Home Front Command guidelines, is 3-4 liters of drinking water per person per day — for drinking and cooking. On top of that, fill buckets or large pots for flushing toilets and basic cleaning. For example: a family of four facing a half-day shutoff usually needs 6-8 liters of drinking water plus 2-3 buckets of water for household use.

Water corporation phone numbers — to check a water shutoff in your area

Before posting a notice, it’s worth confirming with your local water corporation whether this is a planned shutoff or a fault — so the notice can also give a reliable time estimate. These are the phone hotlines of Israel’s water and sewage corporations:

CorporationMain citiesPhone
מי אביבים (Mei Avivim)Tel Aviv-Yafo*3202 or 1-800-071-202
הגיחון (Hagihon)Jerusalem, Abu Ghosh, Mevaseret Zion1-800-800-093
מי שבע (Mei Sheva)Be’er Sheva, Ofakim*6512 or 1-800-071-562
מניב ראשון (Meniv Rishon)Rishon LeZion1-800-800-181
מי כרמל (Mei Carmel)Haifa1-800-100-104
מי שקמה (Mei Shikma)Holon, Azor, Beit Dagan, Or Yehuda03-5011111
מי נתניה (Mei Netanya)Netanya1-800-20-20-84
מיתב (Meitav)Petah Tikva, El’ad, Kafr Bara1-800-20-20-39
יובלים אשדוד (Yuvalim Ashdod)Ashdod106 (municipal hotline)
מי אשקלון (Mei Ashkelon)Ashkelon, Netivot1-800-800-277
מי רמת גן (Mei Ramat Gan)Ramat Gan109 (municipal hotline)
מי בת ים (Mei Bat Yam)Bat Yam1-800-650-011
מי ברק (Mei Barak)Bnei Brak1-800-071-200
מי הרצליה (Mei Herzliya)Herzliya106 (municipal hotline)
מי חדרה (Mei Hadera)Hadera1-800-70-91-92
מי אונו (Mei Ono)Kiryat Ono, Yehud-Monosson*8284
מי גבעתיים (Mei Givatayim)Givatayim107 (municipal hotline)
מי רעננה (Mei Ra’anana)Ra’anana1-801-227-227
מי”ה (Maya)Hod HaSharon108 (municipal hotline)
עין אפק (Ein Afek)Rosh HaAyin106 (municipal hotline)
מי מודיעין (Mei Modi’in)Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut1-800-300-420
מי לוד (Mei Lod)Lod1-800-800-160
מי יבנה (Mei Yavne)Yavne, Gan Yavne1-800-50-41-42
מי ציונה (Mei Ziona)Ness Ziona, Mazkeret Batya, Kiryat Ekron1-800-800-987
תמ”ר (Tamar)Ramla, Bnei Ayish, Gedera, Kiryat Malakhi1-800-800-151
מי תקווה (Mei Tikva)Ganei Tikva1-800-80-40-80
מי שמש (Mei Shemesh)Beit Shemesh1-800-84-8888
מי קרית גת (Mei Kiryat Gat)Kiryat Gat1-800-563-565
מעיינות הדרום (Ma’ayanot HaDarom)Arad, Dimona, Yeruham, Mitzpe Ramon1-800-20-30-70
נווה מדבר (Neve Midbar)Hura, Lakiya, Kuseife, Tel Sheva*6645
מי רהט (Mei Rahat)Rahat08-6707070
מי נעם (Mei Noam)Nof HaGalil, Migdal HaEmek, Afula1-800-306-366
מי רקת טבריה (Mei Rakat Tiberias)Tiberias, Migdal, Yavne’el, Kfar Kama1-800-807-777
מי התנור (Mei HaTanur)Kiryat Shmona, Metula, Katzrin, Majdal Shams1-800-200-744
מי גליל (Mei Galil)Sakhnin, Arraba, Majd al-Krum, Nahf, Deir al-Asad1-800-800-339
מי עכו (Mei Akko)Acre (Akko)1-800-400-120
ימים (Yamim)Kiryat Yam1-800-405-540
פלגי מוצקין (Palgei Motzkin)Kiryat Motzkin, Rekhasim1-800-800-232
מעיינות אתא (Ma’ayanot Ata)Kiryat Ata1-800-200-464
מעיינות העמקים (Ma’ayanot HaAmakim)Yokneam Illit, Kiryat Tivon, Ramat Yishai, Zikhron Ya’akov1-800-800-223
מעיינות זיו (Ma’ayanot Ziv)Ma’alot-Tarshiha, Shlomi, Kfar Vradim1-800-705-305
עין כרמים (Ein Kramim)Karmiel1-800-35-20-20
סובב שפרעם (Sovev Shefar’am)Shefar’am, Tamra, Kabul, Kafr Manda, I’billin1-800-702-106
אל עין (Al-Ein)Abu Snan, Judeida-Makr, Kafr Yasif, Yarka, Julis1-800-505-106
הרי נצרת (Harei Nazareth)Nazareth, Iksal, Yafa an-Naseriyye, Ilut, Reineh*9160 or 1-800-201-040
מי עירון (Mei Iron)Ar’ara, Kafr Qara, Baqa al-Gharbiyye, Tayibe, Zemer1-800-506-059
מעיינות המשולש (Ma’ayanot HaMeshulash)Tira, Jaljulia, Kafr Qasim09-7938816
מעיינות השרון (Ma’ayanot HaSharon)Even Yehuda, Kfar Yona, Pardesia, Kadima-Zoran, Tel Mond1-800-071-100
פלגי שרון (Palgei Sharon)Kfar Saba, Kokhav Ya’ir-Tzur Yigal09-7649106
שרונים (Sharonim)Ramat HaSharon1-800-071-333

Full list of all water and sewage corporations on the Water Authority website (Hebrew) → (as of June 2026)

Key Takeaways

  • Post a planned water shutoff notice at least 48 hours in advance
  • Always include: date, hours, reason, and a phone number for questions
  • Post it at the building entrance, by the elevator, and in the building’s WhatsApp group
  • The template here is free — copy, print, or download as Word
  • Before posting, confirm with the water corporation that the shutoff is planned

Related Templates

All templates for building committees →

Tired of taping paper notices in the lobby for every water shutoff? With a digital notice board for your building, the notice goes up on a screen at the entrance instead of on the wall — updated remotely in seconds, and it disappears on its own when the water is back.