Technical assistance from the Ministry of Health has been promised to help resolve contamination of Reidston's privately-owned water scheme.
The Otago Daily Times reported earlier this month the 28 consumer shareholders in the scheme had installed a new $50,000 water treatment plant to meet new drinking water standards, but had had to boil drinking water for the past six months because of contamination.
The Ministry of Health had paid $38,000 towards the cost of treatment after assessing the ability of the plant, supplied by Purewater Corporation NZ Ltd, to meet drinking water standards.
After the plant failed to do that, the Ministry, through its consultant Public Health South, told the water supply committee the issue was between it and the Auckland-based company.
It had been estimated it would cost $70,000 to rectify.
Purewater had blamed changes in the water source, a bore near the Kakanui River, since the plant was installed for the problem and refused to contribute to the cost.
Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean said yesterday the ministry would support the Reidston community in its efforts to improve the water supply.
Information supplied on request to Mrs Dean included a recent letter from the ministry, stating its intention was, and still is, to support the community in improving its water supply.
