‘Critical': parts of regional NSW set to run out of water by November

Parts of regional New South Wales could run out of water as early as November with data showing the worst-case scenario for the state if there’s no rain or government intervention.

A huge mat of red duckweed floats on the surface of
 the Macquarie River in Dubbo due to the decreased
flow of water. WaterNSW say Dubbo is set to be one of
the first NSW towns to lose water if it does not rain.

The projections from NSW’s river operator and bulk water supplier WaterNSW show without significant rain the first towns to lose water supply will be Dubbo, Cobar, Nyngan and Narromine with the Macquarie River forecast to run dry by November.

The Macquarie River experiences an average inflow of 1,448GL annually but in the past two years has seen just 97GL enter the river system, the data shows.

Read the story from The Guardian by Paul Karp and Australia Associated Press - “‘Critical': parts of regional NSW set to run out of water by November.”

(It’s events such as these that will focus peoples’ thinking about the climate crisis - Robert McLean)