The May 2018 flash flood across Hobart
Over the day ending 9am on 11 May 2018, Hobart (Ellerslie Road) recorded 129.2 mm of rain, more than half its autumn total. Almost half of that fell between 9pm and midnight on 10 May. kunanyi/Mount Wellington recorded 236.2 mm on 11 May, which BOM lists as the site's highest daily rainfall for any time of year (BOM May 2018 summary).
AIDR records that the flash flooding affected parts of the CBD, Salamanca, South Hobart, Sandy Bay, New Town, Blackmans Bay and Kingston, and that the Hobart Rivulet broke its banks (AIDR: Hobart flash flooding 2018). When water like that moves through a building, the question afterwards is what it left behind on floors, walls and fittings.
Tasmanian Health on sewage, flood water and mould
The Department of Health warns that floodwater and debris may contain sewage, and that water, mud and silt from floods can carry germs that cause gastro and skin infections (Tasmanian Health: health and safety during power outages and severe weather). That page holds the official clean-up advice, and Test Australia does not add to it.
The Department's mould page also says a building's interior can be assumed to be mould-contaminated after a flood if it was flooded for more than two days or shows water damage or musty odours. That is why a Hobart flood job often pairs bacteria swabs with a mould inspection in Hobart.
Hobart water damage and insurance claims
The Insurance Council of Australia declared the May 2018 Hobart floods a catastrophe, and by late August 2018 the Insurance Council reported almost 8,800 claims lodged (AIDR). Common requests during a claim include swabbing after a sewage overflow, after a flood clean-up, or before linings and floor coverings are put back.
Any party to a claim can commission testing, and the report is the same whoever pays for it. Whether a tribunal, court or insurer relies on a report is a decision for them. The mould insurance claims guide and the guide to bacteria after sewage and flood water cover related questions.
What Hobart bacteria swabs measure and when
Surface swabs are collected from the areas in scope, with site conditions recorded and chain of custody maintained. The scope sets which organisms or indicator groups are tested. The report names the laboratory and states any accreditation that applies. Test Australia itself is not NATA-accredited. Each result is shown against the criterion the report names, with the reason for choosing it.
Timing matters. Sampling is planned once any water or sewage entry has been stopped and the clean has finished. A round before cleaning can give a baseline where the scope calls for one. The national bacteria testing page explains the method, and our methodology sets out the general approach.
Who asks for bacteria testing in Greater Hobart
Common requests include owners checking a home after a sewer surcharge or burst pipe, landlords and tenants who want the same evidence after water entered a rental, insurers and loss adjusters, and buyers of a property with a known flood history. The storm and flood season guide and what to do when contamination is found help with next steps.
Test Australia tests and reports only. It does not clean or recommend cleaners, so the results stay independent of the clean. Read why we only test, see the types of assessment work we report on, or go to all testing in Hobart. Smoke and soot questions belong with fire damage testing in Hobart.
From a Hobart enquiry to a bacteria report
- Explain what happened. Tell us the Hobart address, the source of the water or contamination, the rooms affected and when cleaning is due to finish.
- Approve the scope. The written fee proposal lists the areas to be swabbed, the organisms or indicator groups in the analysis and the purpose of the report.
- Swabbing after the clean. Suitably qualified occupational hygienists collect swabs from the agreed surfaces and record site conditions and chain of custody.
- Signed report. Each result is reported against the criterion named in the report, with limits. Reports are available within 5 business days of the laboratory results being received.
Hobart bacteria testing questions
Which parts of Hobart were hit by the May 2018 flash flood?
AIDR records that the flash flooding affected parts of the CBD, Salamanca, South Hobart, Sandy Bay, New Town, Blackmans Bay and Kingston, and that the Hobart Rivulet broke its banks. BOM recorded 129.2 mm at Ellerslie Road over the day ending 9am on 11 May 2018.
What does Tasmanian Health say about flood water and sewage?
The Department of Health warns that floodwater and debris may contain sewage, and that water, mud and silt can carry germs causing gastro and skin infections. Its page holds the official clean-up advice. Test Australia's role in Hobart is to measure what remains once cleaning is done.
Which criterion does a Hobart bacteria report use?
The report names the criterion each result is compared with and explains why it was chosen. The scope sets the organisms or indicator groups tested, such as markers of sewage. Results describe the surfaces swabbed on the day, and the report states what was not sampled.
When should bacteria swabs be taken in a Hobart home after a flood?
After the water or sewage source has been stopped and the cleaning has finished, so the results show what the clean achieved. A round before cleaning can serve as a baseline when the scope calls for it. Tell us the expected finish date so the visit can follow it.
Should a flooded Hobart building also be checked for mould?
Often, yes. Tasmanian Health says a building's interior can be assumed to be mould-contaminated if it was flooded for more than two days or shows water damage or musty odours. A Hobart flood assessment can pair bacteria swabs with a mould inspection under one scope.
Can a Hobart insurance claim use a bacteria report?
Any party to a claim can commission testing, and the report is the same whoever pays for it. Whether a tribunal, court or insurer relies on a report is a decision for them. By late August 2018 the Insurance Council reported almost 8,800 claims lodged for the May 2018 Hobart floods (AIDR).
Who analyses bacteria samples from Tasmania?
An independent laboratory. The report names the laboratory and states any accreditation that applies. Test Australia itself is not NATA-accredited. Suitably qualified occupational hygienists collect the swabs in Hobart and record chain of custody, and the signed report sets out the method, the results and the limits.
How long until a Hobart bacteria report is ready?
Reports are available within 5 business days of the laboratory results being received. Because swabbing follows the clean, give us the date cleaning is due to finish and any insurer or tenancy deadline. The fee proposal confirms the scope before the visit is booked.