Flevoland residents advised to protect toilets as power outages risk sewage overflow

To avoid sewage backing up into homes during extended power outages, Waterschap Zuiderzeeland has issued a warning for residents of Flevoland. Homeowners are advised to close toilets and ground-floor drains when electricity is unavailable for several days.

The water board’s information leaflet instructs: “Cover the toilet bowl with a towel, then close the seat and lid. Place a heavy object, like a sandbag, on top.” Alternatively, an inflatable pipe plug can be used. For floor drains, the advice is: “Insert a strong cloth into the drain and weigh it down with a heavy object.”

The water authority says sewer backups are more likely than overflowing canals. “All wastewater from homes and businesses flows into the sewer network,” dike reeve Hetty Klavers said in a statement. “When there is a power outage, wastewater moves through the system more slowly because sewer pumping stations rely on emergency power, which means the network can become overloaded faster.”

For that reason, the water authority is urging residents to limit water use during prolonged power outages. One of the tips is to shower less frequently. “For personal hygiene, use a small amount of water and a washcloth to cut down on wastewater from showers.” Gardens that allow rainwater to soak into the soil can also help reduce pressure on the sewer system.

Some of the waste substances in the water may end up in canals and ditches during a prolonged power outage, which can cause them to start smelling. “Prevent (household) animals from drinking water from the ditch,” the leaflet therefore states. The water authority recommends using a rain barrel to provide drinking water for animals, but not for people.