Four Corriedale rural water schemes will be run by a new consumers' group from July 1 after the Waitaki District Council this week decided to hand over their management and operation.
The arrangement will last for two years, after which the council will decide how the schemes will be managed.
The Corriedale Water group will take over the Awamoko, Kauru Hill, Tokarahi and Windsor schemes which supply about 1150 consumers and provide water for stock on about 50,000ha in the Corriedale ward.
It follows 15 months of negotiations between the council and representatives from the four schemes, along with asking consumers for their views, leading to unanimous approval of a memorandum of understanding by the council on Monday.
The handover will take effect from the start of the new financial year on July 1.
The memorandum covers all aspects of management and operation of the four schemes, including health and safety issues, maintaining water quality and quantity through to a dispute resolutions process between consumers and the group.
It includes peer reviews after six months and a year to ensure the group is meeting the provisions of the memorandum.
Kauru Hill scheme representative Ross Ewing told councillors the group was pleased with the progress made, and emphasised there was no intention for the group to lessen quality or quantity, but to make ''significant savings'' for consumers.
