Exploratory drills could soon be sunk in Wanaka's lakefront reserve as council engineers search for an alternative water source to address an ongoing algae contamination of the town's water supply.
Pembroke Park could become the home for underground water bores up to 30m deep, as the Queenstown Lakes District Council tries to find a cleaner water source than existing intakes, which draw from Lake Wanaka.
The move has gained a preliminary measure of support from leading members of the Friends of Pembroke Park - an organisation dedicated to preserving the integrity of the prime lakefront reserve.
The lake is contaminated by a mysterious, invasive algae, which continues to frustrate residents and council water engineers, by blocking water intakes, clogging filters, and disrupting household water pressure.
QLDC Wanaka engineering project manager Rob Darby said the council has applied for resource consent to the Otago Regional Council to sink two exploratory water bores on Pembroke Park.
The two bores will be placed about 30m apart and will be located on the park in a direct line with Youghal St, on the lake side of the reserve, he said.
The "prospective bores" would be "unobtrusive" and below ground.
The council is hoping the bores will confirm an underground aquifer exists, which "might possibly provide a purer source of water than existing intakes," Mr Darby said.
A similar exploratory bore was drilled at the Lake Hawea waterfront reserve at Scotts Beach recently. the bore had sourced an underground aquifer containing an uncontaminated water supply, and it is hoped a similar result will be obtained in Wanaka.
Friends of Pembroke Park organisation secretary Loris King said the move to drill exploratory bores was an option to improve water supply quality.
