Water Theft Strikes Adelaide Hills Amid Ongoing Dry Conditions
Thieves have drained the rainwater tanks of two neighbouring properties in the Adelaide Hills overnight, stealing nearly 200,000 litres of water, valued at over $5,000.
Kris and Russel, who wish to remain anonymous, suspect that a water truck was used in the theft, which took place in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Kris described the moment her husband discovered the theft: “At 3:15am, my husband got up to use the toilet, and there was no water. I’d checked at 2am, and everything was fine. It must have happened between then—sometime after 2am and before 3:15am—a big truck came along and took 20,000 gallons, about 75,000 litres.”
Despite securing the tank with two padlocks, Kris mentioned that thieves could easily bypass such locks if determined. This theft marks the first time in 25 years that the couple has been targeted, despite previous incidents of water theft when they moved to the area 40 years ago. “We’re in our 70s, and with overseas guests here in their 70s too, we’re now waterless—brushing our teeth with a glass of water,” Kris explained.
Fortunately, Kris and her husband have access to a bore that can refill their tank, but their neighbour Russel is not as fortunate. Russel reported that his tank, which holds around 135,000 litres and is valued at over $4,000, was also emptied overnight. His tank, like Kris’s, is placed near the road for fire services in case of emergencies.
Russel added that the theft was likely carried out in multiple trips, citing truck tracks found around the water tanks and driveways. “Even if the tank wasn’t full, it still had about 70,000 to 80,000 litres, which would have required several truckloads to empty,” he said. He speculated that the thieves may have sold the stolen water elsewhere.
Kris estimated her stolen water to be worth $2,120. With record-low rainfall across the hills, she expressed concern that more thefts might be occurring. “Everyone’s running low on water, and with water being trucked in for farmers, it wouldn’t surprise me if others are being targeted,” she said.
The South Australian Police are still investigating the thefts but have not provided further details.
Ongoing Dry Conditions
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, many parts of the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula have experienced significant drought, with the Strathalbyn weather station recording 146 days without substantial rainfall. Although recent rains have brought some relief in certain areas, reservoirs in the Mount Lofty Ranges catchment area remain low at just 37 percent of capacity, compared to 47 percent last year. The largest reservoir, Mount Bold, is at 29 percent capacity, an improvement from 15.7 percent at the same time last year.
