With a fire season that announced itself with the roar of flames rather than the spluttering of sparks, and amid drought conditions being hailed as the worst ever, the water issue was always going to become a point of concern and in some cases contention.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Many are asking where the water is coming from to fight the fires, and there are others who want to know why their water was used by the RFS.
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall empathised with both groups.
"The water to fight the fires will come from a mixture of places," he said.
"All the fire fighting authorities are always trying to draw water from public water sources, that is rivers and steams that still have a flow.
RELATED READING:
"They also have been trucking in water from the coast in large tankers, and in some instances they are drawing on recycled water from sewerage treatment plants as well."
Mr Marshall said the firefighters would only grab water from dams on farms if they had no other choice.
"But that's if that's the only option they have at that particular time," he said.
"And, there is a well-established policy that any water taken from farmer's water storage is replaced at no charge to the farmer.
"So, those who have had the RFS on their property taking water should keep a note of it. The RFS usually do keep a note, but it is important that the landholder also keep a note, just so they can be sure to get that water back."
Mr Marshall said, typically, the water would be replaced by the Department of Land Services or Primary Industries, but the RFS paid for it.
"That replacement water is sourced from outside this region," he said.
"At the moment, it would probably be sourced from somewhere on the coast."