Australians living in drought-stricken communities are being forced to shower in algae-ridden water as the Darling River continues to dry up

  • Darling River has not flowed for more than 200 days due to long-term drought 
  • As a result, the communities on the waterway are struggling to survive 
  • Many farmers and residents are blaming mismanagement from the government 

Communities along the Darling River are on the verge of collapse as the long-term drought continues to dry up the waterway, which hasn't flowed for more than 200 days. 

Much of the New South Wales' river's tributaries have run dry and the main waterway is dangerously low and contaminated with blue-green algae.

The algae has deteriorated the water quality so much large quantities of dead fish were discovered floating on the surface earlier this year because of the lack of oxygen. 

Families living in the area say they have been forced to bath in the green, murky water flowing from their taps.  

The conditions have created a dire situation for farmers, instigators and graziers who rely on water from the river to survive. 

Farmers Gabby and Stewart Le Lievres (pictured) live outside Bourke with their twin sons but are on the verge of disaster

Farmers Gabby and Stewart Le Lievres (pictured) live outside Bourke with their twin sons but are on the verge of disaster

Much of the river's tributaries have run dry and the main waterway is dangerously low and contaminated with blue-green algae

Much of the river's tributaries have run dry and the main waterway is dangerously low and contaminated with blue-green algae 

A Current Affair recently visited families from Bourke, a town nestled on the banks of the Darling River, to see just how dire things have become firsthand.

Farmers Gabby and Stewart Le Lievres, who live outside Bourke with their twin sons, say they are on the verge of disaster if the drought continues and water allocations aren't changed.

'We are back to a third of what we normally carry and what we've got left is breeders. The bare breeders and that's everybody around in this community,' Mr Le Lievres said.

He said bureaucrats have already warned the government that major issues will continue to arise if they don't make better decisions regarding drought assistance and water management.

The algae has deteriorated the water quality so much large quantities of dead fish were discovered floating on the surface earlier this year because of the lack of oxygen

The algae has deteriorated the water quality so much large quantities of dead fish were discovered floating on the surface earlier this year because of the lack of oxygen

Mrs Le Lievres described the current situation as 'heartbreaking' and feels the government doesn't have a true idea of the situation facing those reliant on the Darling River. 

'People say the river has been dry before, this is nothing new, but it is because this is the health of the river now we are talking about.'

The Darling River is the third largest river in Australia and covers a 1,400km stretch of land from New South Wales down to the Murray River. 

It's surface water is vital to agriculture, urban water supply, environmental needs and hydroelectric generation across the entire region. 

The flow on effect of a healthy Darling River contributes up to $24 billion annually into the economy. 

The Darling River is the third largest river in Australia and covers a 1,400km stretch of land from New South Wales down to the Murray River

The Darling River is the third largest river in Australia and covers a 1,400km stretch of land from New South Wales down to the Murray River

Director of environmental water policy at the Murray Darling Basin Authority echoed the sentiments of farmers that the government mismanaged its water protections.

'It was just really clear that the government wasn't interested in protecting environmental water,' she told news.com.au.

'Water that was purchased by the Commonwealth (at the expense of taxpayers) can be legally extracted by irrigators. That's a $3 billion portfolio that we've bought to put more water back in the river and it can be taken by irrigators.'

'After several years of pushing what I was supposed to be doing, which was my job — to find policies to protect environmental water — it was really clear that government didn't want that to happen.'

Bourke resident Tony Thompson runs a water pumping station on the bank of the Darling River and said he has never seen it in such a state. 

He fears the river may never recover fully.

'That's sad, I mean it's a magnificent old river, we can't be the guardians of its demise,' he said. 

This year, an Australian National University also laid heavy blame on the Federal Government for allowing the situation to become so dire. 

Co-author Professor John Williams said the government was misinformed when it came to water management in the Darling River. 

Mrs Le Lievres described the current situation as 'heartbreaking' and feels the government doesn't have a true idea of the situation being faced by those reliant on the Darling River

Mrs Le Lievres described the current situation as 'heartbreaking' and feels the government doesn't have a true idea of the situation being faced by those reliant on the Darling River

This year, an Australian National University also laid heavy blame on the Federal Government for allowing the situation to become so dire

This year, an Australian National University also laid heavy blame on the Federal Government for allowing the situation to become so dire 

'The Government thinks we've returned more water to the Murray-Darling than in fact we have,' Professor Williams told ABC News

'It means that we've spent a lot of money on water use efficiency and have not got the flows back in the river that we need.' 

In early March, a confidential document reportedly revealed the NSW Government prevented any changes to water access rules for businesses along the river, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

According to the document, a five-year restriction was put on changing water access rules.

A spokesperson for the Department of Industry Water denied the claims to the publication and said the minister could make changes at any time. 

'Water-sharing plans are intended to achieve a balance between the environment and water users,' the spokesperson said. 

Experts said the only solution to the Darling River's contamination issues is a flowing river.  

Experts said the only solution to the Darling River's contamination issues is a flowing river

Experts said the only solution to the Darling River's contamination issues is a flowing river