Eric Fernihough couldn't wipe the smile off his face when a much-needed delivery arrived at his farm gate.
"You should see the big cheesy grin I have," Mr Fernihough said.
He was among those who received water as part of the one million litres delivered by the national water-saving initiative #FinishWaterWaste, a joint partnership between Finish and Rural Aid.
Mr Fernihough, who lives on of property 40km north west of Murrurundi, has been carting water for 18 months and has spent $1200 on the liquid more valuable than gold.
In that time he's had several water deliveries including 10,000 litres from Hunter Water through the Lions Club.
But this week's delivery of 30,000 litres from #FinishWaterWaste will see his water situation covered for the next 12 months.
"My wife and I will make this last 12 months," he said.
Mr Fernihough said his property recorded 14mm on Friday, the most they had received in a single weather event for five months.
"Our usual average rainfall from January to October is 650mm but we've only recorded 250mm," he said.
Meanwhile Murrurundi remains at level six water restrictions - a level that was implemented mid 2018 - with the town's water currently coming from an emergency bore and water carting from Scone.
According to Upper Hunter Council's website there was "very little available from the Pages River".
This means residents are only allowed 140 litres per person a day (three minute showers) and households have been reduced to two loads of washing a week.
The water delivery is the second water-drop as part of the initiative that encourages Australians to turn off the tap and stop pre-rinsing their dishes to save up to 40 litres of water per load.
Upper Hunter Shire Mayor Wayne Bedggood thanked Rural Aid and the initiative for the donation of water to local farmers.
"Rural communities know how essential a resource water is. For those on the land, if it doesn't rain there can be no water for crops or livestock and there can be enormous expense in just maintaining basic household and drinking supply levels," Cr Bedggood said.