The tide is out for the $50,000 water feature project planned for Wanaka's Lakeside Rd.
Work on the project was scheduled to start last month, but problems with sourcing enough water are hindering progress.
"The water pressure that's supposed to be there at the moment isn't there," Wanaka Springs Community Trust representative Jude Battson said.
The Springs trust has been raising funds since 2007, when it first came up with the idea to create the rock-and-wood water feature to beautify an area of Roys Bay between the dinosaur playground and the Wanaka marina. The Wanakafest Community Trust has also come on board with the project.
Ms Battson said a conduit was put under the road about the time the idea was formed, and a pipe to convey the water was installed last month, which was when the water shortage became evident.
"So we are now pursuing other avenues."
"Exploratory digging" is to be carried out at the site to investigate water sources in the area.
"We only have to look at the water that flows down into the lake from some of the pipes to know that the water is there. It's just finding it at the height we need it ... with enough pressure. We want it to be gravity fed."
The closest monitoring bore for the Wanaka aquifer is near Wanaka Wastebusters on Ballantyne Rd.
Otago Regional Council environmental information and science director John Threlfall said a July report from the bore indicated the aquifer was "in good shape" and its level was "within the normal range".
"In a dry spell last summer it didn't go down too far and in July of this year it was in the top 25% of all the figures we've got." The natural variation of where the springs came out from underground was the more likely cause of water shortages for the project.
"We do have that problem of multiple exits for the spring water ... One route might get disturbed or change over time, or it gets blocked, so it will pop up somewhere else."
Dr Threlfall said finding an immediate water supply for the project was not guaranteed.
Grants and commitments for the project have been received from several groups.
