A six-year programme upgrading 21 rural water schemes to meet new drinking-water standards has now started with work on the lower Waitaki scheme.
The $300,000 project will benefit 580 people served by the scheme and should be completed by late this year.
Other schemes earmarked for upgrading this financial year are Weston-Enfield, Dunback-Goodwood-Palmerston, Hampden-Moeraki and Otematata.
Water and wastewater assets manager Martin Pacey said yesterday the council had a timetable to complete upgrading by 2014, having finished the biggest - spending $12 million on the Oamaru water supply.
Bores have been sunk to supply water for the lower Waitaki scheme, replacing the feed from the Lower Waitaki Irrigation Company.
The bores still needed to be tested, with testing having been delayed by heavy rain in May, which lifted groundwater levels.
The scheme would also receive ultraviolet treatment and improved chlorination.
Next up is the Weston-Enfield scheme.
Weston will be supplied with a new pipeline from the Oamaru water treatment plant to the Weston reservoir.
Final design work was being completed and agreement had been reached with property owners along the pipeline route, Mr Pacey said.
Enfield was still considering its options.
Combining the Dunback-Goodwood and Palmerston schemes was being investigated by the council, while work was still being done on options for the Otematata scheme.
