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Severn Trent is working to resume mains water supply across the affected areas of Gloucestershire. For the latest information, INCLUDING IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON WHAT TO DO WHEN THE WATER SUPPLY COMES BACK ON visit:http://www.stwater.co.uk/
Advice and tips for coping with the current water shortages from Gloucestershire Constabulary: http://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/news/197.html
Health advice for households affected by the current water shortages from the Health Protection Agency: http://www.hpa.org.uk/flooding/water_consumption.pdf
FEEDING BABIES IN THE CURRENT WATER SITUATION
If your drinking water supply is interrupted or becomes contaminated by the flooding and you need to prepare formula feed for a baby, it is important to be careful with the water you use.
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The preferred option is to use bowser or bottled water brought to a ‘rolling' boil. After allowing to cool, follow the manufacturer's instructions on making up the feed.
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Commercially ready made formula milk may be used as an alternative to powdered feeds made up with boiled bowser water.
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If neither option a or b are possible because there is no electricity or gas to allow boiling, bottled water (table, spring or mineral water) can be used unboiled to prepare baby feeds, but the prepared feed should then be used immediately. Unboiled bowser water should not be used.
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Parents with infants that have a recognised kidney condition or that have been placed on a low sodium diet or that are unwell with diarrhoea and vomiting should seek medical advice from NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
ADVICE ON FLUSHING TOILETS AND SANITATION
But whether visiting the toilet or not, good hand hygiene is needed in a flood zone, and essential for anyone who is about to prepare or eat food. With no mains water, toilet flushing can be achieved in several ways:
1. Put used "grey" water (eg: used washing-up water) or rainwater into your cistern and flush as normal
2. Pour used "grey" water or rainwater direct into the bowl - from a height sufficient to flush it through
3. Flood water can also be used to flush the toilet, but it is important to clean your hands afterwards as there is a small risk of infection from contaminated water.
However, the advice is: if you don't really need to flush the loo, don't. There are no health implications from not flushing after every visit. It is, of course, still important to wash your hands.
If your house is in a flood affected area you may be experiencing problems with blockages and backflow from your toilet. This may appear as sewage material flowing back into your toilet or bathroom.
If there is a simple blockage without backflow contamination normal means of unblocking can be attempted.
Non flooded households
In a non-flooded property if your toilet is backing up and there is overspill and sewage waste. Close the door to prevent access and do not use the room affected. This should reduce the risk to health. Following advice on hand washing, food preparation, drinking water, and general hygiene for flooded properties will further reduce any risks to health.
Flooded households
In a flooded property where sewage from a backflow has spread outside the room, it may be difficult to prevent spread. Until the water recedes do not attempt to use or unblock a non-functioning toilet or bathroom.
The following options may be available to you.
1. It may be possible and practicable to use the facilities of unaffected neighbours, public toilets, rest centres, local shops, supermarkets and hotels.
2. Chemical toilets ("portaloo") may be provided in your area.
3. Check your local authorities website or telephone them to find out where chemical toilets are provided
4. You may be provided with portable a "bag in bag" system (see below).
5. Where these options are not available and there has been contamination of your property with sewage waste you should consider moving for the time being e.g. to friends or relatives outside of the affected areas.
If anyone in your household has diarrhoea or an upset stomach, the best options are 3 or 4.
Portable "bag in bag" products (such as products called "brief relief", "wag bag") are available for solid and urine waste. These are for single use and contain non-hazardous chemicals. They are provided with information on their safe use and disposal.
ADVICE ON TAPS AND HEATING SYSTEMS
You should turn off all hot and cold water taps, even when supply has been cut off. This is to prevent problems, such as loss of water or house flooding should you be away from your house when the water service is restored.
As an additional safety precaution it is also advised to turn off electrical showers via the pull switch.
It is advisable to turn the power off at the mains on your central heating system. There will either be an electrical switch or you may need to turn your programmer/timerswitch to off. This is to ensure that the pump does not run dry. This advice is the same regardless of whether your heating is electric, oil or gas powered. You are advised not to light any solid fuel boilers.
Immersion heaters should be turned off at the electrical switch. If the immersion heaters safety switch fails a dangerous build up of steam or a fire risk may result.
Links to Latest Flood and Water Supply Information
Last Updated: 30/07/07
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