Bushfires coupled with the continuing drought have done little to help alleviate dwindling water supplies throughout the Mid North Coast.
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In fact, MidCoast Council last week announced water restrictions would be set at level four.
And, with domestic water tanks running dry carriers are struggling to keep up with demand.
Some carriers are rebooking clients as soon as they have delivered their load.
"The phone has been running off the hook," Donna Eason said.
Donna, who operates Nabiac Water Carriers in partnership with husband Mick, said they were booked out until Monday, December 23.
"We have been pretty busy for months; and we were getting on top of things until the bushfires," she said.
Drawing water from town mains, water is delivered in their sole 10,000 litre truck.
Since the bushfires the business has been inundated with calls from burnt-out areas within their delivery district - which stretches north to Harrington, south to Coolongolook and out to Gloucester - mainly Rainbow Flat, Possum Brush and Hillville.
Donna said if the situation doesn't improve soon council might have to lend a hand.
Living on a small holding at Belbora, between Kranbach and Gloucester, Donna understood the value of water.
As the on-property creeks have all dried up the couple had been forced to install drinking troughs to water their reduced herd of cattle.
We shuffle things around a bit, and people have been so understanding.
- Chrissy Hobden
Ray Hobden was looking forward to semi retirement when he established Diamond Beach Water a little over 12 months ago.
But, the escalating drought has forced Ray back into full-time work and at the same time employ daughter, Chrissy to field the constant telephone calls and requests for that precious commodity, water.
Since Ray was appointed by the government to deliver water through the Local Land Service drought and fire relief package, he has been putting in upwards of 15 hour days.
Deliveries from Ray's 13,000 litre capacity bright yellow converted prime-mover have been booked out for more than 10 days.
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However, he puts in his best efforts to service long-time and local clients.
"We shuffle things around a bit, and people have been so understanding," Chrissy said.
Expanding the delivery area to cover communities from Coomba Park to Johns River, Bulahdelah and Port Macquarie, many newer clients have either lost water tanks as a result of the bushfires or used up all their water.
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Jeanene Duncan
Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines.
Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines.
