Bushfires and your water supply

With the Fire Danger Period officially underway, the chance of bushfires breaking out in areas of Melbourne’s south-east increases. South East Water wants to remind our customers and community about potential impacts to their water supply in the event of a bushfire and how to be prepared.

In the event of a bushfire, there could be an increase in demand for water from customers and fire services, which can result in a loss of water pressure, or in some cases a loss of supply to some properties.

In extreme cases, South East Water infrastructure and systems can also be impacted by fire. Impacts to other service providers, particularly an electricity outage may also cause prolonged interruptions to water supply.  

This is why it’s important to remember that residents can’t rely solely on the town’s water supply during a bushfire.

If you live near forest, bush, grassland or coastal environments, it’s essential to prepare your property for a bushfire. As part of your fire plan, you need to be prepared with a water supply independent to mains water.

This could involve drawing water from water tanks, dams and swimming pools, or filling up in advance and storing water in receptacles such as rubbish or wheelie bins, and bathtubs or laundry tubs. You should also consider the use of a generator to power your pump in case you lose electricity supply.

South East Water Acting General Manager Service Delivery, Andrew Forster-Knight said advice from the CFA guided South East Water’s preparation for the Fire Danger Period, and the utility has processes and precautions in place to minimise the chance of interruptions during an unexpected bushfire. 

More information on bushfire preparedness and water supply visit: www.southeastwater.com.au/bushfires