Throughout February, a group of local correctional officers have been answering the calls of remote communities throughout NSW experiencing severe water shortages.
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Officers from the Bathurst, Kirkconnell, Lithgow and Macquarie Correctional Centres have been spending their time off-duty carrying out a series of water deliveries to outlying NSW towns.
To date, the group has delivered pallets of water to Mendooran, Brewarrina and Walgett and will soon be making a delivery to Menindee.
"We delivered four pallets to Mendooran, eight pallets to Brewarrina and 27 pallets to Walgett," Bathurst Correctional Centre field officer Wayne Cole said.
"For the Menindee run, we're looking at delivering around 25 to 27 pallets."
The plan to deliver water to remote NSW communities was devised by Mr Cole and Dubbo councilor Greg Mohr, and the initiative has seen around 30 correctional officers and their families get involved.
Mr Cole said the media coverage of the dire drought situation in remote NSW served as inspiration to launch the initiative.
"When we visited the Namoi River in Walgett and saw this council water pump sitting in a pile of mud, it really hit home for us," he said.
"The sodium level in Walgett's water is nearly twice that of the national safe drinking guideline."
"Furthermore, Brewarrina and Bourke are about to be placed on level 4 water restrictions, and Mendooran is virtually out of water, with the small supply available being deemed undrinkable."
Mr Cole said the response from the Walgett community in regards to the water delivery was overwhelming.
"There was not a dry eye in the house when the children at Walgett's Koolyangarra Preschool thanked us for delivering water to them," he said.
The officers have received packs of water from a variety of local businesses as well as members of the community.
Mr Cole has been thankful for the outpouring of community support and said every pack of water makes a significant difference.
"Many remote communities are feeling quite isolated and forgotten due to the drought and the mismanagement of the Murray-Darling Basin," he said.
"It's a national disaster that is unfolding in front of our eyes, and we want to let these communities know that we haven't forgotten them and that we're here to help."
The group will be carrying out their water delivery to Menindee on March 11.
Members of the community who wish to contribute to the cause can drop a pack of water to the Bathurst Correctional Centre's general office from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
