Queenstown Lakes District Council water contractors are scheduled to meet Wanaka plumbers to try to formulate solutions to problematic algae continuing to contaminate the town's water supplies.
United Water manager Gerry Essenberg told Wanaka Community Board members last week a solution to the problem remained out of reach and might require significant capital investment to improve water treatment "at the source".
An invasive algae has been clogging household water supplies at Wanaka and Albert Town, affecting water filters, irrigation systems and appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines.
About $50,000 would be allocated in the next financial year to a fit a new filtration system, under tender, Mr Essenberg said.
However, his update on the situation was viewed as unsatisfactory by some board members.
Deputy mayor John Wilson and board member Carrick Jones criticised Mr Essenberg's reluctance to help Wanaka residents, whose water supplies were being affected by the algae.
It was unlikely the council would subsidise Wanaka residents to help fix the problem, Mr Essenberg said.
Plumbers were still residents' best port of call, he said.
Mr Wilson said the situation was not good enough.
Affected residents were being hit with expensive plumber's bills, while also being expected to pay the council's water rates.
"Be careful we are not saying [to ratepayers] the problem is yours and not ours [the council's]," he warned Mr Essenberg.
He was concerned about the attitude being displayed by contractors, Mr Wilson said.
If plumbers were the ones responsible for fixing most residents' clogged supplies, then the council was not getting "the full picture" about the problematic alga and its effects, he said.
"I'm staggered. It's really not good enough," Mr Wilson said.
Cr Leigh Overton called for Mr Essenberg to meet plumbers so United could have a "better handle" on the issue.
"If the knowledge is shared, then trends will be highlighted about [the algae's] affects, and this will help indicate our priorities to find a solution," he said.
