The start of 2020 has certainly been a damp one for many parts of the UK. Storm Ciara, and more recently Storm Dennis, have wreaked havoc on communities who are left clearing up the mess and damage.
Saniflo, a leading name in the pump sector, is on hand to offer advice and solutions to those affected.
Be prepared!
Householders and residents in areas vulnerable to flooding should try their best to be well organised well in advance – particularly given the increase in flooding incidences; which are occurring for a variety of reasons including dense building on flood plains! If located in areas affected by increased rainfall:
- Check the local area’s risk of flooding with the Environment Agency or local council and create a flood protection plan if the property is vulnerable to water ingress.
- Be added to the Environment Agency’s call chain that alerts vulnerable households hours in advance of severe weather warnings.
- Implement a plan in advance which should include:
- Moving furniture upstairs or raising it up on a platform (bricks, for example)
- Place sandbags at door entrances
- Turn off low level electrics/plugs and move appliances, electrical leads etc.
- Seal airbricks up
- Use toilet bungs and close all toilet lids to stop sewage overflowing
- Move cars to higher ground to avoid external flood damage
- Use a dehumidifier to remove damp and minimise risk of mould
The chances are that some water will still creep in to the property. It is worth considering a puddle sucker pump that can re-direct shallow water back outside to a drain or higher ground.
Have a Saniflo solution to hand
The new Sanipuddle from Saniflo is a submersible puddle pump for rainwater that features a flat base and can suck away excess water to just 1mm. Pumping water away at up to 5.5m³/hour the portable unit is quick to deploy and can be placed straight into the water to keep levels low which helps to reduce any damage caused by flood water. It can also be used externally to pump away water to higher ground up to 7m.
Further precautionary measures that can be taken by communities affected by floods include:
- Work with the Environment Agency and council to ensure local drainage systems are regularly cleaned and maintained. This is often not the case and prevents the drainage infrastructure from working correctly in the event of short sharp heavy rainstorms.
- Lobby to stop building on areas prone to flooding.
- Object to the removal of trees and hedges as they absorb water.
- Invest in shared resources in towns and village that can be loaned to locals to help protect their homes. For example, local parish could hold a central stock of submersible pumps and dehumidifiers that can be temporarily issued out to residents whose homes are most at risk.
Of course for external flooding there are many other pumping solutions and it is worth checking out the full range by Saniflo who have been producing macerators and pumps for over 60 years. But for dwellings that are susceptible to water ingress, the Sanipuddle is a cost-effective solution and a great place to start for a domestic flood protection plan.