A $10,000 report into an alternative water bore for Omakau and Ophir might signal an end to frequent "boil water" notices for consumers on the town water supply.
The Vincent Community Board has agreed to fund an investigation into the feasibility of a bore source next to Thomsons Creek, near the Racecourse-Lauder Rds intersection.
It had set aside $5000 to investigate options for upgrading the water supply, but the report would cost $10,000, Central Otago District Council water services engineer Nigel Saunders told the board on Monday. The intake from the bed of the Manuherikia River, upstream from the Ida Valley-Omakau road bridge, was subject to "frequent and prolonged periods of turbidity" when the river's flow was high, Mr Saunders said. Exploratory bores were drilled in six different locations near Omakau recently but none were suitable for an improved water supply.
A bore on a private property 6km from Omakau might be a better option, even though the cost to pipe water would be relatively high, the board was told.
A total of 233 Omakau and Ophir properties were connected to the town water supply and it was going to have to be upgraded to meet the new national drinking water standards, council water services manager Russell Bond said.
"Although this [the Thomsons Creek option] is not close to town, it has the advantage of probably needing a lower level of treatment due to it being a clearer source. It will also provide better water pressure than residents have now."
Board member Claire Goudie asked if ratepayers would have to fund the upgrade.
Mr Bond said once the feasibility study was completed into the potential new supply, the costs of the options would be provided to residents for their feedback.
"We don't want to impose something on them they can't afford. "
Even if the new source was suitable, that option could still be rejected as too expensive.
Board chairwoman Clair Higginson said having frequent boil-water notices was "causing grief " and she hoped a new source would eliminate the problems.
