Residents urged to throw out wet carpet

Dunedin (Sunday, 7 June, 2015) – The Dunedin City Council is urging anyone whose carpets were damaged by floodwater to throw them out or get them professionally cleaned and sterilised for health reasons.

DCC Environmental Health is concerned that some people are drying out carpet that has been contaminated with sewage and heavy metals and then relaying it for further use.

Team Leader Ros MacGill says reusing the carpets may lead to ill health by infection from ecoli bacteria that would have been floating about in the sewage contaminated water. She says heavy metals and residues from tarseal and oil could also have been part of the mix.

“Drying carpets in the sun will only lay the ecoli spores dormant, but once the carpets are used those spores will then be added to the atmosphere and be breathed in.”

DCC Recovery Manager Ruth Stokes says it is best to throw out the carpet and make an insurance claim and those that don’t have insurance or aren’t eligible for other government assistance can apply for the recently announced mayoral flood fund.

“It is important that people make the right decisions as we work through the recovery phase to ensure community health is maintained. Don’t save items that may later cause ill health, anything that absorbed water should be discarded and replaced. Cost shouldn’t factor into the decision when insurance and financial assistance is available.”

The Dunedin City Council will be working closely with the Southern District Health Board to further promote safe practices in the wake of a flood in the coming week.

For the most up-to-date information please visit:

Dunedin City Council Facebook Page

Dunedin City Council Twitter Page

http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council-online/public-notices/public-notices/snow-day-information

ENDS

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