What should I do if I find a dead possum or bird in my tank? A dead animal in your tank will not necessarily cause illness if you drink the water, but it is best to drain all water from the tank as a precaution. Wash out any sludge from your tank, repair any holes in the roof and scrub the interior with a household bleach solution. Remember to maintain good ventilation whenever you are cleaning out any tank and always work with an assistant outside the tank (refer to the enHealth Council’s Guidance on use of rainwater tanks for further information on tank cleaning and desludging details at the end of this booklet). Refill your – tank with good quality water and disinfect it with chlorine. If good quality water is in short supply and it’s not feasible to drain and refill the tank, you should remove as much of the animal carcass as possible and chlorinate the water. Where can I get my water tested? Generally, your drinking water supply shouldn’t need to be tested if it is well managed and maintained. However, if you do need your water to be tested many analytical laboratories can provide this service. Look in a business telephone directory under “Analysts”. Is there enough fluoride in my private drinking water supply? Fluoride is added to many town water supplies to help protect teeth against decay.
What should I do if I find a dead possum or bird in my tank? A dead animal in your tank will not necessarily cause illness if you drink the water, but it is best to drain all water from the tank as a precaution. Wash out any sludge from your tank, repair any holes in the roof and scrub the interior with a household bleach solution. Remember to maintain good ventilation whenever you are cleaning out any tank and always work with an assistant outside the tank (refer to the enHealth Council’s Guidance on use of rainwater tanks for further information on tank cleaning and desludging – details at the end of this booklet). Refill your tank with good quality water and disinfect it with chlorine. If good quality water is in short supply and it’s not feasible to drain and refill the tank, you should remove as much of the animal carcass as possible and chlorinate the water. Where can I get my water tested? Generally, your drinking water supply shouldn’t need to be tested if it is well managed and maintained. However, if you do need your water to be tested many analytical laboratories can provide this service. Look in a business telephone directory under “Analysts”. Is there enough fluoride in my private drinking water supply? Fluoride is added to many town water supplies to help protect teeth against decay.