Driest winter period in 130 years: Murrurundi and Upper Hunter delivered a million litres of water
A moment of reprieve came for Upper Hunter families on Monday, with around one million litres of water trucked in to Murrurundi and surrounds to keep the taps running.
Newcastle
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Imagine only having a shower two or three times a week because water is so precious that it needs to be conserved.
40 kilometres from Murrurundi, Crawney farmer Eric Fernihough said it’s a reality he doesn’t like to admit, but it’s just the way things are after areas of the Upper Hunter region have suffered through one of the driest winters of all time.
“Murrurundi has just come off its driest winter period in 131 years of recorded rainfall, and on top of that excessive amounts of winds and its evaporating from the dams,” Mr Fernihough said.
“Being on a farm there is no town water. The house on the property is 100 years old and was located here due to its proximity to the creek that flows alongside, but it hasn’t flowed for the last three years.
“Basically we only shower twice a week, maybe if you’re going out somewhere then you might fit a third time in because you can’t shower on a daily basis.
“Last Friday we had 14mm rainfall which was the highest single rainfall event in the last five months.”
Dry, dusty and desperate, the town of Murrurundi ran out of local water over six months ago.
Residents of the drought-stricken town forced to endure extreme level six water restrictions for more than a year, with loads of water being trucked in, the only solution to deliver the precious resource in desperate times.
Not a solution, but a moment of reprieve came on Monday, as around one million litres of water was trucked in for local farming families in the region to keep the taps running.
Conserving water has become Murrurundi’s key priority as the Pages River continues to evaporate, which has meant the township can only access water for the bare essentials.
The delivery was part of the #FinishWaterWaste initiative and Rural Aid, which is urging Australians to turn off the tap and stop pre-rinsing their dishes to save up to 40 litres of water per load.
Mr Fernihough received a large milk tanker full of about 30,000 litres of water. He’s thankful for the drop but hopes people realise how dire things are for rural families.
“A lot of things have to change, some people are waking up to that, certainly a drought as severe as this is opening the minds of many people and hopefully, people in government at all levels are taking note,” he said.
“Scone in the same local government has just gone on level 1 water restrictions, I think it should be mandatory across the whole state all the time. Probably level two as a matter of course.
“It would be prudent to start saving water, it’s pitiful to drive into Scone and see people washing their cars when people here, just down the road, are reducing their showers and are down to around 140L a day.”
Rural Aid spokesman Gary Bentley said it’s difficult to fathom a farmer turning on the tap and nothing coming out.
“It’s a privilege we take for granted in this country,” he said.
“This will be the second major water delivery on our journey to donate 6.8 million litres of precious water to regional communities in need.”
Upper Hunter Shire Mayor Wayne Bedggood said rural communities know how essential water is and was thankful for the water families around the region receive.
“For those on the land, if it doesn’t rain there can be no water for crops or livestock and there can be enormous expense in just maintaining basic household and drinking supply levels,” Cr. Bedggood said.
“In town, Murrurundi residents have shown great determination to conserve water over recent years, and even when the water pipeline is complete in 2020, they will still be a waterwise community.
“They have set a great example for any town or city, of how to use less water.”
In September, level one water restrictions were introduced to the Lower Hunter - the first time in 25 years, as the worst drought on NSW gripped NSW.
While it’s far cry from the situation in the Upper Hunter and surrounds, all Hunter residents are being urged to do their bit to conserve water.
Research shows over three quarters of Australians use their dishwashers at least two to three times a week, with the majority rinsing their dishes beforehand.
This unnecessary habit can waste up to 40 litres of water per load or an estimated 20 billion litres of water in just one year, hence why we’re being asked to turn off the tap and stop pre-rinsing.
Six way to save water at home
1. Dual flush on the toilet saves 80 per cent per flush
2. Modern shower heads save 50 per cent per minute
3. Front loading washing machines save 70 per cent per load
4. Dishwashers save 90 per cent per load
5. Low flow taps save 50 per cent per minute
6. Drip irrigation saves 99 per cent per hour