Water becomes a priceless commodity for Australians by Steph Ball
October has seen new records being set across parts of Australia, with the state of Victoria declaring it the driest month in 92 years while New South Wales has experienced its hottest and driest October on record.
For New South Wales this hot weather comes on the back of a longer period of above average temperatures affecting the state, with 60 out of the last 70 months falling warmer than average.
The October rain deficit is said to exceed that of the 2002 El Nino and 1900 Federation Droughts. The period from March to September this year has already seen an extended period of below average rain, for the states of Victoria and New South Wales.
Earlier in October, Australian scientists warned of parts of country being on the brink of its worst drought on record. This renewed drought comes in what is another strengthening El Nino year, which is expected to remain in place until early next year.
This drought has sparked the new and unprecedented crime of “water theft”. Police at a small village near Canberra are hunting thieves who used crowbars to crack open water tanks and steal the precious commodity, whilst near Bungenbore, water has been stolen from dams and tanks.
While the Australian government has offered more than 900 million Australian dollars to drought relief, police fear that water thefts will escalate as the forecast for spring and summer offers more in the way of warm, dry weather.
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