Residents of a small mid-Canterbury community are in disbelief at plans to source their drinking water from a muddy farm stream.
The Ashburton Council would filter water already used by cows to supply homes in the drought-affected town of Mayfield.
The town's main bore is about to run dry after three winters of low rainfall, which has forced the council to bring in a $125,000 portable water treatment plant.
"The package treatment will have a filter, will chlorinate and will have UV treatment, so it will meet New Zealand drinking water standards," says Ashburton Council's Neil McCann.
Deborah Manhire is one of those in the small community and is disgusted by the idea, instead wanting fresh water trucked in.
"It's an affront to human dignity, to be reduced to drinking stock water after the animals," she says.
"In summer, the irrigators are still pumping water all over the fields, and we're reduced to drinking this."
But experts are backing the council on health and safety.
"In terms of public health, in terms of the health of the residents, that water will be tested, will be safe," says Alistair Humphrey, Canterbury medical officer of health.
The council says it can't afford to pay top dollar for just 67 households.
"Any other options are just horrendously expensive and would be unfair on the ratepayers," Mr McCann says.
Ms Manhire is hoping to get nationwide support for the small community.
"I think the people of New Zealand need to stand up and support in trying to stop this - because, what if it happens to the Aucklanders, would they drink this?"
It's a tough pill to swallow for those drinking second-hand stock water in Mayfield.
Newshub.
