The water supplies were put on a precautionary boil-water notice at the end of October following an outbreak of cryptosporidium in Queenstown.
None of the supplies in Awahokomo, Awamoko, Kauru Hill, Tokarahi, Stoneburn or Windsor have protozoa barriers, which filter out parasites such as cryptosporidium.
Only Stoneburn and Awahokomo are run by the Waitaki District Council. The other four are run by Corriedale Water Management, chaired by Garry McLeod.
Mr McLeod said the water was the "same water it’s been for years" and it was a personal choice to boil the water or not.
"I certainly don’t boil my water."
He was connected to the Windsor supply and was confident of its quality, but he had no young children or immunocompromised people in his home.
Cryptosporidium had never been found in any of the supplies, but the parasite was hard to test for, he said,
All of the supplies Corriedale managed were chlorinated.
Corriedale Water Management had received quotes and selected a company to improve treatment to account for protozoa, which could include filtration, UV treatment or both, he said.
That could be up to a year away and the boil notice was in place as a precaution so residents knew there was a risk.
"I’m quite happy drinking the water — people coming into the area might not be."
A Waitaki District Council spokeswoman said Stoneburn was scheduled for upgrades within the next two years, which would meet drinking water standards.
Awahokomo was a small supply with a unique arrangement which the council was working on with residents.
The Lake Ōhau and Bushy Creek water supplies had been on boil-water notices since 2014 due to not being treated and were also due for upgrades within the next two years.
The precautionary approach ensured consumer health was put first, she said.
"These are the only means of guaranteeing the water will not make people sick."
The Kurow and Otematata water supplies, managed by the council, were on a boil-water notice for five days earlier in the month after samples tested positive for E. coli.
Daily samples were taken over a week and all came back negative, so the council lifted the notice, she said.
"We will continue to investigate the possible cause of the failed E. coli results."
