Mrs Bryam steps into her shower carrying a bucket of warm water and a sponge. She is not cleaning her bathroom, she is about to wash herself among the severest water restrictions Melbourne has ever known. With the lowest rainfall in decades and the climbing temperatures reaching to a new sustained high, Australian’s throat is being squeezed by a drought that may never end.

One Australian farmer commits suicide every four days, defeated by the country’s worst drought in 100 years which has left them with dust-bowl paddocks and a mountain of debt.

As drought rolls into a sixth year, farmers are reduced to tears under the stress of trying to produce a crop and hold onto land sometimes farmer by the same family for generations. The Murray Darling system is drying up causing grief among the farmers that depend on this river system. If the spring rains do not come before summer starts the Murray Darling River basin (food basket) will simply dry up. This means two-thirds of the fruit and vegetable produces would eventually dry up and disappear.

Many Australian’s ponder what the actual main cause of this thirsty drought is. The answers have been in front of our eyes as world temperatures have been rising due to global warming, Australia is drifting north towards the hot equator, increase of demand for water for the growing population and over mismanagement of preserving water.

Some small towns located in the south east Queensland have already been evacuated due to lack of water, soon enough the state capital Brisbane will follow if no rain comes soon.

Many of Australian cities have gone through action by lodging tough water restrictions. However more action has to be taken to preserve our precious water but still considering the fact we want to be able to use water confidently so that our needs for survival, cleanliness and beauty are met. To do this we need to use more rainwater tanks, drip water systems, Grey water tanks powered by solar energy and grey water usage in gardens. With the support of the government they should provide these incentives and subsides. Also the council needs to harness storm water run off by using management systems. Useful tips would to use common sense to preserve our precious water and to always have hope living through this dry age.

Australia is a slowly dying country in need of rain and support.