Network head of corporate affairs Paul Roberts said the electricity distributer is making urgent assessments at homes and infrastructure along the River Murray as the State Government today confirms flows are still likely to reach 135GL a day across the border but could get as high as 160GL.

Sandbagging at shacks and houses along the river is well underway including at 39 homes and two caravan parks at Blanchetown, shacks at Morgan and Bow Hill, with emergency services calling on owners to only take the right number of sandbags needed as supplies are continually replenished.

Roberts said electricity infrastructure was already standing in floodwaters and floodplains along the river and it was important to disconnect power where the community’s safety is at risk.

“We have disconnected supply to the lower part of the Loxton Caravan Park, about 35 properties at Beaumonts just south of Morgan, and we are closely monitoring a number of other areas as floodwaters rise on the River Murray,” he said.

“We also have sent an SMS to more than 3,000 property owners located in low-lying areas to advise of the potential for disconnection.”

He warned of the potential risk from electric shock or other issues associated with network infrastructure in flood waters including electrical wiring and appliances inside properties or electrical wires that maybe lower lying as waters rise.

“Ideally solar panels should be shut down and people with batteries should consider moving them above expected flood levels. This is a job for a qualified electrician,” Roberts said.

Electricity infrastructure in high water at Loxton. Photo: Belinda Willis

The latest action comes as State Emergency Services chief officer Chris Beattie today called on property owners to only take enough sandbags from designated pick up sites to adequately protect their homes.

He said the average three-bedroom house needs between 10 to 20 sandbags to fill gaps under doors, vents and drains.

“We don’t want people building a wall around their property,” Beattie said.

More than 333,000 sandbags have so far been distributed across the state and the SES website has shown some stations running out on some days.

“We do know that with 135GL of water there will be hundreds of shacks and also homes that are outside of shack areas where there will be water inundation beyond the floor level,” Beattie said.

Work to inspect levees is continuing with Beattie saying it is “around the levee structures in place to protect suburbs and townships that we are prioritising”.

The State Government said the expected peak river flow remained at 135GL per day at the border in December – but there is a moderate chance this could reach as high as 150GL and low probability of 160GL – but more rain meant high river levels could now continue into January.

Environment and Water Minister Susan Close also warned that the state faced the challenge of black water entering the river system and killing fish as it robbed them of oxygen, the species most at risk being the iconic Murray Cod.

Organic matter entering the water from floodplains caused black water and some fish deaths have already been reported over the border and also in the lower reaches of the River Murray.

Minister Close said the Environment and Water Department is working with SA Water and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, fish scientists and upstream states to create a haven for native fish in better quality water in and around Lake Victoria.

“The risk of a blackwater event in South Australia will increase from this Saturday onwards as a result of higher daytime temperatures, which will speed up the biological processes that deplete oxygen in the water,” she said.