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A close up of a pair of hands scooping up water

A view of hills in South Australia's outback
Kanku Breakaways Conservation Park near Oodnadatta in South Australia.(ABC News: Che Chorley)
A main road cuts through the South Australian outback and desert, with clear blue sky above
The road connecting Oodnadatta and Coober Pedy.(ABC News: Che Chorley)
A view of hills in the Kanku Breakaways Conservation Park near Oodnadatta
Kanku Breakaways Conservation Park just outside of Oodnadatta.(ABC News: Che Chorley)

A man sits on a log on the banks of a dam looking up at the sky
Yankunytjatjara and Narungga man Dean Walker grew up in Oodnadatta.(ABC News: Che Chorley)

A close up shot of a woman's face
Cheryl Stewart has lived in Oodnadatta and neighbouring cattle stations her whole life.(ABC News: Che Chorley)

A woman wearing a purple shirt stands with her hands on her hips and looks up to the sky
Cheryl Stewart washes in groundwater plumbed to her home.(ABC News: Che Chorley)

A close up short of cracked, dry dirt
Water is a precious commodity in the desert town.(ABC News: Che Chorley)

A view of the Pink Roadhouse at Oodnadatta
The Pink Roadhouse in Oodnadatta.(ABC News: Che Chorley)
A sign outlining road restrictions on the Oodnadatta track
A sign outlining road restrictions on the Oodnadatta Track.(ABC News: Che Chorley)
A sign that says Welcome to Oodnadatta
Welcome to Oodnadatta sign in South Australia's outback.(ABC News: Che Chorley)

A sign out the front of the Oodnadatta Health Service
Authorities warned residents not to drink the water for the sake of their health.(ABC News: Che Chorley)
A noticeboard with lots of notices hangs on a pink wall
An outdated sign on the community notice board at the Pink Roadhouse.(ABC News)
A close up of a sign from SA Water telling residents how to safely use the water
An old sign instructed residents on how to safely use the water.(ABC News)
A road house sign at dusk
The Pink Roadhouse at Oodnadatta.(ABC News: Che Chorley)

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A close up photo of a woman wearing sunglasses
Roseanne Woodforde says the warnings around tap water were not always heeded.(ABC News: Che Chorley)

A teenage girl leans up against a shipping container painted with indigenous art
Tahneesha Warren is a student at the Oodnadatta Aboriginal School.(ABC News: Che Chorley)

A man wearing a bright yellow work shirt and cap, leans on a fence while looking at the camera
Robert Aitken is looking forward to switching from using his rainwater tank to tap water.(ABC News: Che Chorley)

Salt build up on the mechanics of an air conditioner unit
Robert Aiken's air conditioner unit has salt build up like the build up on this unit in town.
Salt build up on the inside of an air conditioner unit
Crystalised salt on an air conditioner unit at the now defunct general store.(ABC News: Che Chorley)

Yankunytjatjara and Narrunga man Dean Walker grew up in Oodnadatta
Dean Walker says returning to Oodnadatta is good for his soul. (ABC News: Che Chorley)

A close up shot of a man's hands washing under a tap
Robert Aitken washes his hands under a tap.(ABC News: Che Chorley)

A man leans on a fence while looking over his left shoulder
Shane Mohor says he first started asking questions about Oodnadatta's water supply in 2019.(ABC News: Che Chorley)

A man stands with his arms crossed, looking at the camera
Shane Mohor travelled from Adelaide to Oodnadatta to hear locals' concerns.(ABC News: Che Chorley)

SA Water's Amanda Lewry
SA Water's Amanda Lewry says the water in Oodnadatta is now safe for use.(ABC News: Che Chorley)

A woman wearing a beanie looks at the camera
Valerie Walker is still wary of the tap water in town. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
Dunjiba Community Council chair Anthony Smith
Dunjiba Community Council chair Anthony Smith.(ABC News: Che Chorley)
The creek leading into Hookeys Waterhole just outside Oodnadatta
The creek leading into Hookeys Waterhole just outside Oodnadatta. (ABC News: Che Chorley)

A birdseye view of Oodnadatta in South Australia
A birds-eye view of Oodnadatta.(ABC News: Che Chorley)

A birdseye view of a main highway leading into Oodnadatta in South Australia's outback
The main road leading into Oodnadatta.(ABC News: Che Chorley)

A man looks to the distance with his arms crossed
Patrick Larkins says the lack of a morgue is an issue for the town.

A birdseye view of Oodnadatta in South Australia's outback
Unemployment is also a concern for locals at Oodnadatta.(ABC News: Che Chorley)

Oodnadatta Odyssey-60
Dean Walker has been on the Aboriginal Advisory Council for five years.(ABC News: Che Chorley)

A birdseye view of the desalination plant at Oodnadatta
The desalination plant stands on the outskirts of the town.(ABC News: Che Chorley)

Red dirt spills from a woman's hands
Red dirt spills from Oodnadatta local, Cheryl Stewart's, hands.(ABC News: Che Chorley)





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