With a wet summer ahead, residents are encouraged to take precautions to protect their homes and the local wastewater network.
The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts above-average rainfall for South East Queensland, heightening the need for residents to prepare.
Urban Utilities spokesperson Michelle Cull stressed the importance of maintaining overflow relief gullies (ORGs) around the home.
“Your ORG, which looks like a drain outside the house, is designed to redirect wastewater outside during blockages or excessive rainfall,” Michelle said.
“Ensure it’s clear of leaves, debris, or anything else that might prevent it from lifting properly.”
Michelle also highlighted the need to avoid connecting stormwater downpipes to the ORG, as this can flood the wastewater network.
“It’s common for stormwater to enter our network through improper plumbing connections, which can overwhelm the system during heavy rain,” she said.
“This is one simple step residents can take to protect both their homes and our infrastructure.”
Urban Utilities advises residents to include 10 litres of drinking water per person in their emergency kits in case of temporary water outages.
Urban Utilities’ Michelle Cull reminds residents not to forget to include water in your emergency kit, and check your ORG.
“Our teams work around the clock to keep water flowing, but weather events can impact pumps and the network,” Michelle said.
“Having extra water on hand ensures you’re covered for short interruptions.”
For more tips on preparation, Urban Utilities has released a checklist, and residents can find additional emergency planning resources through Get Ready Queensland at getready.qld.gov.au.
“Taking time now to prepare can make a big difference when a storm hits,” Michelle said.
Your ORG or overflow release gully is a small grated outlet outside your home often near the kitchen or bathroom.
