Reidston is still in limbo with its contaminated water supply, but Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean is confident the problems will soon be resolved.
The privately owned and operated scheme provides water to 28 consumers in the area straddling State Highway 1 just south of Oamaru, all of whom paid towards the $50,000 cost of a new treatment plant to upgrade the supply to new drinking water standards.
But since May last year, the treatment plant has not operated properly and tests showing constant presence of bacteria has meant consumers have had to boil drinking water.
The scheme's committee blames the Ministry of Health, which approved the plant for a $38,000 government grant, and the plant's supplier, Purewater Corporation NZ Ltd, for the failure and want them to pay to rectify it.
They, in turn, have disavowed any responsibility and say the cost - estimated at $70,000 - should be met by the consumers.
Mrs Dean became involved after the Labour Party candidate for Waitaki, Barry Monks, and the scheme committee raised the issue in December through the media.
Yesterday, Mrs Dean said she spoke with ministry officials on Monday and had found representatives were committed to fixing the problems.
"I'm working closely with the ministry and I'm pleased all concerned are moving to find a solution," she said.
"I believe they are as equally concerned as I am about Reidston's water supply problems and to having the matter quickly rectified."
However, scheme committee secretary Tania MacDonald said yesterday it had heard nothing recently from the supply company, the ministry or Mrs Dean.
There had also been no reply to a request lodged by Mr Monks under the Official Information Act with the ministry, except an indication it would take some time to provide the information.
"We are still boiling our water," she said.
E. coli levels in the supply had fallen, but still exceeded the limit requiring a boil water notice.
Mrs MacDonald said the committee still maintained responsibility to rectify the problems rested with the ministry, which approved the treatment plant as meeting drinking water standards and the grant, and the company, which said it would meet the standards.
Purewater said last year that floods in May-June dramatically changed the quality of the supply from the bore source, which was then "vastly different" from what was originally specified.
The ministry maintained the issue was between the water committee and company.
