It's the start of Spring, and the Macleay is still in the vice-like grip of drought. Water is scarce, and the formerly green vegetation is slowly becoming a sickly brown.
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In an attempt stave off the harsh conditions many locals have started turning to water cartage businesses. 'All Done Water Cartage' owner Paul Cuthel is working hard to keep up with the demand, and in his 10-year professional experience, this is one of the busiest few months he's seen.
"We've been flat out the last few months, winter is usually a quiet time for us, but it's been very busy compared to previous years," he said.
"The other day I started work at 5:30 am and didn't finish until 11:30 pm that night. I advertise as 24 hours, so I try my best to keep to my word and help anyone who needs it.
"There usually isn't this kind of demand until later in the year when the warm weather kicks in. I've gotten a lot of new clients in the last few months, people who have never run out of water before."
With his fleet running virtually non-stop, Mr Cuthel is unsure when demand will slow down; the Macleay needs significant rain before it can start to recover.
"I've been averaging six or more loads a day, 13 000 a load, all my trucks have been on the road," Mr Cuthel said.
"People with farms and livestock are struggling to get their animals a drink at the moment, but we've been delivering mainly to residential areas."
There is no sign of rain on the horizon, and for the moment it appears residents of the Macleay will need to endure any way they can. Last month was one of the driest Augusts on record, and with temperatures on the rise, it could be a rough couple of months for residents in the Macleay.
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