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Power was cut off by lightning in Middlemarch this afternoon, and residents were asked not to flush their toilets until further notice.
The incident occurred around 2.30pm today.
The Dunedin City Council said this meant that the city of Otago’s sewer system could not function as efficiently as possible and that if rain fell again in the area, there was a risk of sewage flooding.
At this stage, the power supply was not expected to be restored until at least 4:30 p.m.
DCC is preparing an emergency generator for the sewer system as soon as possible, but in the meantime, it is asking Middlemarch residents not to flush their toilets.
Meanwhile, residents say they are concerned about yesterday’s flooding.
Leaann McLew, a member of the Strath-Taieri Community Board, said Saturday’s flood pattern was different than on previous occasions, and that a lot of water had come in quickly, including from March Creek, she said.
There was “a need to investigate” some issues related to the floods, he said.
The floods, which had affected several homes and some businesses, had subsided since then.
As a rural nurse, Ms McLew appreciated the health dimension of flood problems.
The chairman of the board, Barry Williams, was also concerned as around 40mm of additional rain had been forecast for later today.
Another board member, Blair Dale, said he was also concerned about the flooding, which was still affecting the municipality.
A nearby resident said he drove to Middlemarch yesterday and tried to help people affected by the heavy rains.
