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9 October, 2017 11:46
Queensland Urban Utilities has joined Get Ready Queensland week to help people prepare for potential severe weather this summer.
Water and sewerage services can be affected during storms, which is why drinking water is an essential part of every emergency kit.
Queensland Urban Utilities spokesperson, Sally Prosser, recommends storing at least three days’ supply of fresh water in containers – about 10 litres per person.
“You may need more if someone in your family has a condition which accentuates dehydration such as diabetes,” she said.
“If you have a pet, don’t forget to put aside water for them as well. During hot weather animals can become dehydrated just as quickly as humans.
“It’s important to remember a power outage can impact water services, especially for homes on hills which may rely on boosters to pump supply.”
Residents are also encouraged to check their household plumbing and to make any necessary repairs.
“Make sure your gully trap or overflow relief gully (ORG) is clear from obstruction so it can do its job in the event of a sewage overflow,” Ms Prosser said.
“An ORG is a drain-like fitting located in the ground outside your home, usually near the laundry area. It’s designed to overflow sewage onto the ground outside your house, rather than inside the home, if there is a blockage in your plumbing.
“We’d also ask homeowners to check their downpipes aren’t connected to the sewer system as we don’t want stormwater infiltrating the sewerage network.”
When it comes to extreme weather events in Queensland, it’s not so much a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’.
Get Ready Queensland Week celebrates the resilient nature of Queenslanders. The more prepared we are, the faster we’ll bounce back.
Water and sewerage services can be affected during storms, which is why drinking water is an essential part of every emergency kit.
Queensland Urban Utilities spokesperson, Sally Prosser, recommends storing at least three days’ supply of fresh water in containers – about 10 litres per person.
“You may need more if someone in your family has a condition which accentuates dehydration such as diabetes,” she said.
“If you have a pet, don’t forget to put aside water for them as well. During hot weather animals can become dehydrated just as quickly as humans.
“It’s important to remember a power outage can impact water services, especially for homes on hills which may rely on boosters to pump supply.”
Residents are also encouraged to check their household plumbing and to make any necessary repairs.
“Make sure your gully trap or overflow relief gully (ORG) is clear from obstruction so it can do its job in the event of a sewage overflow,” Ms Prosser said.
“An ORG is a drain-like fitting located in the ground outside your home, usually near the laundry area. It’s designed to overflow sewage onto the ground outside your house, rather than inside the home, if there is a blockage in your plumbing.
“We’d also ask homeowners to check their downpipes aren’t connected to the sewer system as we don’t want stormwater infiltrating the sewerage network.”
When it comes to extreme weather events in Queensland, it’s not so much a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’.
Get Ready Queensland Week celebrates the resilient nature of Queenslanders. The more prepared we are, the faster we’ll bounce back.
'Get Ready' checklist |