|
Main Points
Prevent dust storms going into downpipes Open flush points or even cut collection pipes at the base of your tank to fit T pieces and flush caps / slide valves Allow to settle Drink bottled water Wash clothes at the laundromat Have your tank vacuumed to remove the red dirt to prevent it stirring up again. Or have your tank empty cleaned and refilled with clean water. |
Please mention if you need urgent help with your water. |
Recent fine red dust collected in rainwater tanks right across Victoria is causing cloudiness.
The water should clear in some cases it will take longer, as it is dust and not necessarily organic matter or bacteria. The water should be safe to drink although unpleasant. Boiling and filtering the water will help.
We suggest you allow your downpipes to flush to waste during dirty rain events, as there may still be some residual mud in your pipes.
We advise to get the tank vacuumed after the water clears up, so that when it rains again the mud doesn't stir up when the water level is low. If your tank is low on water have your tank empty cleaned washing down and vacuum the sludge out
this requires buying water in.
Flocculant used to settle clay powder, iron oxide and dust out of water is not always suitable for drinking water as it needs to be filtered out, so you're not consuming the Aluminium Sulphate used in the product. Liquid flocculants require filtering which is hard to do in a single tank.
Chlorination or rapid oxygenation with Di-oxide tablets will help with iron oxide and odour, but not necessarily with dirt or the muddy taste, as oxygen won't break down clay particles.
Main points:
Divert downpipes
Allow to settle
Drink bottled water
Wash clothes at the laundromat
Have your tank vacuumed to remove
the red dirt to prevent it stirring up again.
Or have your tank empty cleaned
and refilled with clean water.
The water should clear in some cases it will take longer, as it is dust and not necessarily organic matter or bacteria. The water should be safe to drink although unpleasant. Boiling and filtering the water will help.
We suggest you allow your downpipes to flush to waste during dirty rain events, as there may still be some residual mud in your pipes.
We advise to get the tank vacuumed after the water clears up, so that when it rains again the mud doesn't stir up when the water level is low. If your tank is low on water have your tank empty cleaned washing down and vacuum the sludge out
this requires buying water in.
Flocculant used to settle clay powder, iron oxide and dust out of water is not always suitable for drinking water as it needs to be filtered out, so you're not consuming the Aluminium Sulphate used in the product. Liquid flocculants require filtering which is hard to do in a single tank.
Chlorination or rapid oxygenation with Di-oxide tablets will help with iron oxide and odour, but not necessarily with dirt or the muddy taste, as oxygen won't break down clay particles.
Main points:
Divert downpipes
Allow to settle
Drink bottled water
Wash clothes at the laundromat
Have your tank vacuumed to remove
the red dirt to prevent it stirring up again.
Or have your tank empty cleaned
and refilled with clean water.