The Clutha Valley dairying boom and the subsequent demand for water has prompted consumers to ask for and get more units, but they will help pay for a scheme expansion needed to provide the extra water.
Reticulation upgrades of more than $400,000 have been approved by the Clydevale-Pomahaka rural water scheme, which was expanded late last year.
In recent weeks, the scheme committee has approved allocating an extra 276 units to 11 farmers, all of who run dairy farms in the catchment area. The farmers will pay about $260,000 towards the improvements with the rest coming a loan of up to $150,000.
Clutha District Council projects engineer Peter Ross said nearly 13km of new pipe and a pump station upgrade will be needed to deliver the extra water.
This will cost about $292,000, which will be met by money made from the sale of the extra units of water. This means the unit rate will not be increased to cover costs.
The upgrade project has been put out for tender, and Mr Ross hopes a decision can be made next month so the work can done this summer.
