A small Waireka Valley community took a big step towards owning its own water supply this week.
One of the Waitaki District Council's smallest water schemes, serving those who live on Dunrobin Rd, northwest of Five Forks, has been funded and operated by its users since 1989.
Dunrobin water supply chairman Laurie Ruddenklau told the Waitaki District Council's assets committee the community-operated restricted water scheme was safe in the hands of the community.
''We're letting our record go ahead of us,'' he said.
There were only 27 connections to the scheme, with about 75 people using the supply.
Stock use accounted for 95% of the water.
He said formalising the ownership of the supply was initiated ''eight or nine years ago'' and although it was the logical step for the users to take, the process had not been prioritised.
Council assets group manager Neil Jorgensen said the council collected no rates for the scheme and had no involvement in the project.
''The scheme has been on our books, as we own it as such, but we've never been involved in the operational management or the collection of money for that supply - that's always been done by that community,'' he said.
The assets committee recommended the council transfer ownership of the scheme to Dunrobin Water Management.
Mr Jorgensen said this would involve a lengthy process through the Local Government Act, including a referendum of the users, before ownership could be formally transferred to the incorporated society.
He said the council supplied water to 95% of people in the district through about 17 water supplies.
