A prolonged dry period in South Australia is causing concern for residents relying on rainwater, with reservoirs at less than half capacity and tanks running dry. Mish Simpson, director of Southern Koala and Echidna Rescue, speaks about the impact on the animal hospital.
South Australia is enduring a prolonged dry spell, raising concerns for residents reliant on rainwater. Some areas have gone over 50 days without significant rainfall, with no immediate relief in sight as tropical cyclones forming off the coast of Western Australia and the Northern Territory are unlikely to bring substantial precipitation to the southern states.
With South Australian reservoirs operating at less than half capacity, it's unsurprising that rainwater tanks are dwindling across Adelaide and regional communities. Many residents are anxiously monitoring their water gauges. Mish Simpson, director of Southern Koala and Echidna Rescue in Onkaparinga, nearly faced a critical situation as her tanks neared depletion, threatening to shut down the animal hospital.'If we had no water, we wouldn’t be able to help these koalas. Our hospital would’ve had to shut down as we need water to operate,' she said. Mish and her husband, Wade, purchased their 22-acre property in the Southern Hills in 2020 and opened their native animal hospital in 2022. This marks the first time in nearly five years they've needed to truck in water due to a dry winter. However, their 27,000-liter supply quickly depleted due to hot weather and the demands of the koalas and native animals under their care. 'This is the first time we’ve had to buy water. The dry winter really depleted our water supply,' Mish explained. 'The koalas on a hot day, if it hits over 30C we put the misters on for them. But with such hot days, we really chewed through our water a lot quicker than expected.'At any given time, the volunteer-run hospital cares for dozens of injured koalas and echidnas brought in by the public. The cost of providing this care is substantial, and the non-profit hospital is now facing additional expenses for truckloads of water, particularly as an influx of animals is anticipated due to extreme heat or potential bushfires. 'We had two 20,000L tanks, and that wasn’t enough,' Mish admitted. 'We’ve asked around, and lucky we are getting more, but it comes at a cost and with so many koalas in care, it’s not exactly an added cost we need.'Connecting to mains water is another possibility the hospital is exploring to ensure a reliable water supply, as they are fortunate to have infrastructure nearby. 'We are close to suburbia, so that’s one lucky thing that works in our favour,' Mish stated. 'It’s going to come at a significant cost, but we may need to connect to mains water. Without water, we cannot run our hospital.'After contacting numerous water trucking companies, Mish realized that her koalas wouldn't make the several-week waiting list most companies had due to high demand from off-main residents experiencing water shortages. Fortunately, the Onkaparinga Council stepped in to provide assistance for the hospital on January 30. 'Onkaparinga council just dropped 10,000 litres, and we are so grateful to them for that,' Mish expressed.The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has indicated that the cyclones typically responsible for bringing rain to the state are unlikely to generate significant rainfall. In a statement to 7NEWS, a BOM spokesperson said there would be no rain in the next few days, but South Australia may experience some rainfall activity next week. 'The tropical lows across northern Australia are not expected to generate rainfall over SA over the coming week. For the week up to February 6, a total of less than 5mm is expected across most of the state, with potentially slightly more rainfall over the far northeast,' they stated. 'The rainfall associated with the tropical lows will occur north of SA, though given the highly dynamic situation, the potential for some of this moisture to affect SA in a period after the coming week cannot be ruled out yet. Refer to the latest weather forecasts for updated information.'However, the BOM's long-range forecast offers some optimism for farmers and those reliant on rainwater, predicting an above-average rainfall period after summer. 'Above average rainfall is likely for much of South Australia, with a more typical range of rainfall for the season being likely over some parts of the south,' the spokesperson said. 'Warmer than average days are likely across the state, increasing to very likely for southern areas, with warmer than average nights are very likely across the state.
South Australia Drought Water Shortage Rainwater Tanks Koalas Animal Rescue Bureau Of Meteorology
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