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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Podcast 1 + Podcast 2
Throughout Qld, NSW and into Victoria, many areas are now damaged by floods. Though most state governments seem unprepared for this event, the Northern Territory Government has a wealth of related fact sheets. Here is a compilation of some that gardeners may find helpful.
[sourced from Northern Territory Government]
LOOKING AFTER YOUR YARD
- Treat all floodwater as potentially contaminated with sewage.
- Yards should be raked to remove debris. If necessary hose down the yard, apply builder’s lime carefully and wet down the lime.
- Septic systems often do not work properly during flooding, or when the soil is very wet.
- Flooding of a septic system may lead to a back-up of sewage in the home and lack of sanitation until the system is fixed. Septic systems may need to be pumped out and the soil and surrounding areas need time to dry out.
- If you suspect your septic tank is damaged have it professionally inspected and/or serviced.
- To avoid mosquitoes breeding in your yard, remove rubbish that is water logged, empty out pot plant bases, and try to encourage drainage from your yard.
- If you use a water bore or well for domestic purposes and that bore has been inundated with floodwaters, your should purge the bore three times the volume of the bore before using the water. If you have continued concerns, please contact the local Department of Natural Resources Environment and the Arts (NT) on 08 8999 4892.
- Seek medical assistance if you have, or if any of your family, have severe vomiting or diarrhoea. If you have these symptoms, you will require extra fluids containing a mixture of electrolytes and sugars; such as Gastrolyte, which can be purchased from local chemists.
FOOD SAFETY AND VEGETABLE GARDENS AFTER THE FLOOD
- Floodwater may have contaminated your vegetable or herb garden. Some garden produce may be salvaged and sanitising, peeling and cooking is recommended to prevent food borne illness. Follow these simple guidelines:
- Your garden will take about a month to become clean after floodwater inundations. Don’t eat or preserve food during this time.
- Discard leafy greens such as lettuce, spinach, and Asian vegetables such as Pak Choy, as well as soft berries and herbs. These are highly susceptible to bacterial contamination that is difficult to remove from them.
- Wash beans, peas, tomatoes, capsicums in water, and then soak in a weak chlorine solution of 2 tablespoons chlorine bleach to 4 litres of water. Peel and cook them thoroughly before eating.
- For underground vegetables such as carrots and potatoes, wash in water and sanitise as above. Peel and cook thoroughly before eating.
- Produce with a protective fruit or impervious outer skin, such as peas, melons, corns or oranges, should be washed and disinfected before the outer shell, skin or husk is removed. Then shell, peel or husk the produce and cook if possible.
- For more information contact Environmental Health (NT) on 1800 095 646.
