‘We’re not being provided with a basic human need’: Australians left high and dry
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Water scarcity is a growing concern, but for some South Australians, it's become an immediate crisis.
As dry conditions persist, residents who rely on rainwater are facing an increasingly desperate situation.
With waiting lists stretching for weeks and no easy solutions in sight, the struggle for access to this basic necessity is intensifying.
As drought conditions worsened across South Australia, thousands of residents found themselves without water, forced to wait weeks for deliveries as supplies dwindled.
For those without access to mains water, relying instead on tanks and dams, the situation became dire, with water carters struggling to meet overwhelming demand.
One water carter reported having 500 people on a waiting list, while another said they received hundreds of desperate calls and emails daily.
‘They can’t drink water. They can’t flush the toilet. They can’t wash their hands, their linen,’ Adelaide Hills resident Robyn Saunders said.
Saunders, who had lived in the region for 30 years, had always relied on rainwater but said this was the worst shortage she had ever faced.
She ran out of water twice, securing one delivery before running dry again, ultimately leaving her Aldgate home for Kangaroo Island, where more properties were connected to mains water.
‘I’ve been up in the hills for 30 years and we’ve faced shortages before, but this is the worst,’ she said.
Despite scraping together enough water to last until early March, she remained frustrated by the lack of solutions in a country where such shortages should not be happening.
‘We’re not being provided with a basic human need,’ she said.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, much of South Australia, along with Tasmania and the Northern Territory, recorded below-average to very much below-average rainfall in January.
Adelaide had its driest year since 2006, prompting the state government to activate the Adelaide desalination plant to produce 300 million litres of water per day, avoiding water restrictions last imposed during the millennium drought.
The demand for water deliveries soared, forcing many to find alternative ways to access essential supplies.
Water carter Jon Ker, a firefighter, said he worked extra hours to meet demand, running loads around his shifts.
‘Now I’m absolutely flat out running loads around my shifts, after night shifts,’ he said.
Other water carters described dealing with increasingly frustrated customers, some of whom became ‘rude, angry and desperate’ after facing waits of up to three months.
One carter, overwhelmed by demand, advised people to use showers at a mate’s house, a gym or a pool while waiting for deliveries.
Member for Mayo, Rebekha Sharkie, raised concerns in parliament, highlighting that some areas had recorded their lowest-ever rainfall.
‘While we’re accustomed to periods of drought, households in Mayo not connected to mains water are running out of water,’ she said.
‘Some are making the heartbreaking decision to leave their homes.’
She said she was in discussions with the state water minister on how to improve water deliveries.
A state government spokesperson stated that individuals and businesses were responsible for ensuring they had enough water, though they acknowledged the high demand for water carters.
‘Due to the current and extended dry conditions through many areas, there is a high demand for water carters,’ the spokesperson said.
They advised landholders to monitor their water supplies and plan ahead to avoid running dry.
Water Minister Susan Close told ABC radio she was working on a plan with SA Water and local councils to allow people direct access to mains water pipes for refilling containers.
She also mentioned the possibility of repurposing milk trucks to help with distribution.
Meanwhile, farmers in areas like the Fleurieu and Eyre peninsulas also struggled, with Rural Aid warning that stock prices were falling and hay supplies were running low.
Rural Aid counsellor Dorothy Crosby said many farmers were consulting their bank managers to figure out how to survive the year ahead.
‘I can’t convey how dry it is,’ she said.
‘On the ground, every farmer’s just trying to work out how to make ends meet.’
Many farmers had taken off-farm jobs for extra income, but with limited hay and financial strain mounting, anxiety levels were high.
Despite the challenges, Crosby noted an ‘incredible outpouring’ of community support, with fundraising efforts and locals helping where they could.
The state government had announced an $18 million drought relief package for farmers in November, but concerns remained about the long-term outlook.
One water carter warned that the crisis was far from over.
‘We’re not even in the busy part yet,’ he said.
As South Australians grappled with worsening water shortages, new data revealed just how severe the dry conditions had become.
Watch the full report below to see how this crisis is unfolding and what’s being done to address it.
With water shortages becoming more frequent, how do you think South Australia should prepare for future droughts?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
As dry conditions persist, residents who rely on rainwater are facing an increasingly desperate situation.
With waiting lists stretching for weeks and no easy solutions in sight, the struggle for access to this basic necessity is intensifying.
As drought conditions worsened across South Australia, thousands of residents found themselves without water, forced to wait weeks for deliveries as supplies dwindled.
For those without access to mains water, relying instead on tanks and dams, the situation became dire, with water carters struggling to meet overwhelming demand.
One water carter reported having 500 people on a waiting list, while another said they received hundreds of desperate calls and emails daily.
South Australians face crippling water shortages. Image source: The Guardian/Sia Duff
‘They can’t drink water. They can’t flush the toilet. They can’t wash their hands, their linen,’ Adelaide Hills resident Robyn Saunders said.
Saunders, who had lived in the region for 30 years, had always relied on rainwater but said this was the worst shortage she had ever faced.
She ran out of water twice, securing one delivery before running dry again, ultimately leaving her Aldgate home for Kangaroo Island, where more properties were connected to mains water.
‘I’ve been up in the hills for 30 years and we’ve faced shortages before, but this is the worst,’ she said.
Despite scraping together enough water to last until early March, she remained frustrated by the lack of solutions in a country where such shortages should not be happening.
‘We’re not being provided with a basic human need,’ she said.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, much of South Australia, along with Tasmania and the Northern Territory, recorded below-average to very much below-average rainfall in January.
Adelaide had its driest year since 2006, prompting the state government to activate the Adelaide desalination plant to produce 300 million litres of water per day, avoiding water restrictions last imposed during the millennium drought.
The demand for water deliveries soared, forcing many to find alternative ways to access essential supplies.
Water carter Jon Ker, a firefighter, said he worked extra hours to meet demand, running loads around his shifts.
‘Now I’m absolutely flat out running loads around my shifts, after night shifts,’ he said.
Other water carters described dealing with increasingly frustrated customers, some of whom became ‘rude, angry and desperate’ after facing waits of up to three months.
One carter, overwhelmed by demand, advised people to use showers at a mate’s house, a gym or a pool while waiting for deliveries.
Member for Mayo, Rebekha Sharkie, raised concerns in parliament, highlighting that some areas had recorded their lowest-ever rainfall.
‘While we’re accustomed to periods of drought, households in Mayo not connected to mains water are running out of water,’ she said.
‘Some are making the heartbreaking decision to leave their homes.’
She said she was in discussions with the state water minister on how to improve water deliveries.
A state government spokesperson stated that individuals and businesses were responsible for ensuring they had enough water, though they acknowledged the high demand for water carters.
‘Due to the current and extended dry conditions through many areas, there is a high demand for water carters,’ the spokesperson said.
They advised landholders to monitor their water supplies and plan ahead to avoid running dry.
Water Minister Susan Close told ABC radio she was working on a plan with SA Water and local councils to allow people direct access to mains water pipes for refilling containers.
She also mentioned the possibility of repurposing milk trucks to help with distribution.
Meanwhile, farmers in areas like the Fleurieu and Eyre peninsulas also struggled, with Rural Aid warning that stock prices were falling and hay supplies were running low.
Rural Aid counsellor Dorothy Crosby said many farmers were consulting their bank managers to figure out how to survive the year ahead.
‘I can’t convey how dry it is,’ she said.
‘On the ground, every farmer’s just trying to work out how to make ends meet.’
Many farmers had taken off-farm jobs for extra income, but with limited hay and financial strain mounting, anxiety levels were high.
Despite the challenges, Crosby noted an ‘incredible outpouring’ of community support, with fundraising efforts and locals helping where they could.
The state government had announced an $18 million drought relief package for farmers in November, but concerns remained about the long-term outlook.
One water carter warned that the crisis was far from over.
‘We’re not even in the busy part yet,’ he said.
As South Australians grappled with worsening water shortages, new data revealed just how severe the dry conditions had become.
Watch the full report below to see how this crisis is unfolding and what’s being done to address it.
With water shortages becoming more frequent, how do you think South Australia should prepare for future droughts?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
