Flooding information and advice

Residents and businesses should ensure that they are well prepared for flooding and sandbags provided by the council are only offered for emergency situations. 

Residents wishing to have sandbags prior to any event should get them from local builder's merchants.

Elderly or disabled people who wish to have sandbags in advance should contact the council by emailing: customer.services@harborough.gov.uk.

We provide sandbags as an emergency response to flooding. 

A supply of sandbags is available from the car park in Mill Hill Road, Market Harborough. 

Please limit the number of sandbags you take to 6 per person.

During emergencies, sandbags will be provided to elderly disabled persons before other members of the public. Due to demand, it will not be possible to deliver to everybody; therefore, it is better for sandbags or other defences to be obtained before an event if you feel you are vulnerable.

Some Parishes in the district have their own supply of sandbags. Please contact your Parish Council for more details.

The primary responsibility for protecting property from the risk of flooding rests with the property owner. Harborough District Council urges those living within areas identified at being at risk from flooding to follow the advice of the Environment Agency to protect their homes.

Additional Information

• Sandbags have a limited shelf life and will disintegrate with prolonged periods of exposure to the weather, however, should last for years if stored correctly.
• Contaminated sandbags should be disposed of and not stored with fresh sandbags.
• Sandbags are of no use if properties are already flooded and efforts are then best concentrated on protecting yourself, your belongings and moving precious items out of harm’s way.
• Consider all entry points that water could get through, not just doorways, such as airbricks, utility service points, and cable entry points.
• Consider that 6 sandbags are required to keep out 20cm depth of water for a standard door opening.
• Sandbags are not the most effective way to prevent water entering premises, other products provide far more effective forms of defense sandbag alternatives

Disposal of Sandbags

If sandbags have come into contact with flood water contaminated with sewage, double wrap them (bin liners can be used), ensuring that you protect yourself by wearing suitable gloves. Once the sandbags are wrapped, they can then be taken to your nearest household waste recycling centre for disposal - Find a recycling and household waste site