5 ways to handle water rationing: business and home

Unfortunately, in terms of insurance, drought, water rationing and the withholding of water by the authorities are not insurable risks or perils and therefore may not be covered by your insurance policy. Where you may be covered, is in the event of a secondary impact (for example, in the case of fire or flood damage) provided that relevant protective measures are in place.

• In the event that water rationing is introduced, ensure that all taps are turned off in your households or business premises. This prevents flooding, especially when water is turned on again.
• Consult with a pool expert and get advice on whether it is advisable to empty your pool. Critically, households should not use empty pools as water collection points. The emptying of pools can compromise their structural integrity, causing them to collapse. Should this happen, it probably would not be covered by most insurance companies. The best thing to do may be to cover your pool to avoid evaporation.
• Switch off your geyser. If your geyser is on, and there is no water in it, the geyser element could burn out.
• Ensure that fire detection and/or sprinkler systems are updated and upgraded. Should there be a fire, you’ll want these to be in tip-top shape. Should you have fire-fighting equipment on your premises, this also needs to be assessed and tested.
• Electrical connections and plumbing should be completed and approved by registered professionals. If not installed correctly, there is an increased risk of fire.

Most importantly, contact Miway to check whether you are covered, should you need to claim.