SunWater out to get drought water rorters Canal-type irrigation on a Queensland canefield. THE harsh drought in north Queensland has created water rorters who are cheating the system for access to millions of litres of water a day to keep their crops alive. The water supplier SunWater is reacting by upping its surveillance and suspending the farmers from water access causing "significant production losses." But farmers claim they are left with little option and some have chosen to flout the rules. The Burdekin irrigation region, south of Townsville, has had little or no rain since May, and cane farmers are in the peak growing season. They need about 12 million litres a day to keep a 100ha farm productive. SunWater restricts them to about half that. There are some claims the losses imposed on the farmers could be costing up to $40,000, but Burdekin irrigation committee manager Russ McNee said that was speculative. "Some of them are aware they shouldn't be taking the amount they are taking and they choose to ignore it," Mr McNee said. Most of them try to comply but they find it very difficult because the entitlement isn't adequate for this time of year. The drought is forcing some farmers to rort the water system. The irrigators get used to the fact they can take pretty much what they like for nine months of the year, but when they are put on peak-flow entitlements, or restrictions, they find it difficult to comply. Ideally the six to seven million litres is a lot of water if you are talking about watering a backyard but when you talk about irrigating a 100ha farm of cane it's barely adequate. The real story is we are trying to not talk too much about it. It is the case that some are taking more water than they are entitled to, but we are trying to keep this low-key because all it does is let SunWater off the hook. SunWater executive Rob Keogh confirmed it had temporarily locked out some farmers for taking more water than their permit allowed. "Most people are doing the right thing, however, we are taking action by temporarily locking out the minority who exceed their entitlement," he said. It is understood about 20 irrigators have been caught so far but SunWater covers a vast area which has about 320km of irrigation channels and is still conducting surveillance.