Using sandbags

How much sand do I need?
We supply empty sandbags to town adn parish councils to distribute so you will need to fill them with sand yourself.
You will need:

• One sandbag will require 20kg of sand or soil.

• 10 sandbags will require 200kg of sand or soil.

• 50 sandbags will require 1000kg or 1 tonne of sand or soil.

Filling your sandbags
Here are some things to remember when you are filling your sandbags.

• Only fill your sandbag up to three quarters full as it can then be moulded easily into the right shape.

• Filling and carrying sandbags is heavy work - consider your own health.

• You should tie off the top of a filled sandbag with string.

• Place sandbags against doorways and pack them in tightly to provide the best protection against water.

• Don't forget to seal up air bricks or vents close to the ground. You may need to turn off heating appliances to do this safely.

How to place sandbags

• Lift the sandbag by the neck and place it across the doorway. 

• Ensure it is bedded in against the door and frame. 

• Make sure the neck is pulled back across the top of the bag. 

• Layer the sandbags in brick formation ensuring that joints are staggered.

Other things to remember
And here are some other points to remember about using sandbags successfully.

• Sandbags will stop a few inches of water for a while before water seeps through.
  The deeper the water gets, the quicker it will seep through.
  Be prepared to remove water which seeps behind the sandbags.

• The plastic sandbags will not rot but become brittle and disintegrate if left in the sun.
  If stored out of sun and rain, they should last for between two and five years.

• Used sandbags may be contaminated.  Please consider your own safety and wear gloves when disposing of used bags.
  The bags can be disposed of in your bin, and contents can be safely used on garden flower beds etc.

You may also like to see our information on Derbyshire councils' sandbag policies, a list of other councils in Derbyshire and information on cleaning up after a flood.