The lice epidemic is well established in WA, and with concerns over chemical breakdowns and resistance, producers may be uncertain how to tackle this year's lice eradication program.

For producers doubting the effectiveness of their backline treatment, the hole left in eradication programs from diazinon's exit can be filled by using different application alternatives.

Albany and Kojonup sheep dipping contractor Eric Webb owns four sheep showers, all of which completely douse the sheep in chemicals from above and below.

Temby White leases one of the showers based in Kojonup, his son Sam runs a machine from Esperance, and Alan Fletcher runs one from Narrogin.

Mr White has seen the effectiveness of the shower first-hand on his clients' sheep.

"Its very thorough, you're not relying on a single strip of chemical on the back of an animal to travel around and kill all the lice on the animal," he said.

"The shower gets the animal absolutely soaking; it's very direct chemical contact."

The shower is 10m by 2.4m, is fully mobile and self-contained.

"All we need is sheep, water and somewhere to back into the yards to load it," Mr White said.

"We can easily do 3000 sheep a day; the water consumption depends on how long after shearing they're dipped."

Mr White said sheep shower operators place a huge emphasis on hygiene.

"Everything is washed down thoroughly because footrot is also an issue," he said.

"It's one of the biggest concern farmers have when they ring up to ask us about the showers.

"We're completely thorough in washing down after a job."

Unless biosecurity is taken seriously, there is always a risk of lice breakouts, according to Mr White.

"There's a lot you can do to minimise the risk of infestation, and the shower is a very viable alternative to other applications," he said.

"But there are many things that can cause a breakdown; whether it be a split shearing, or strays entering the property or a sheep left behind in the paddock, or buying in lousy rams.

"There are a lot of things that can go wrong, and then you're back to square one again."