Some north Canterbury residents say their tap-water quality is so bad it's crunchy to drink and is causing people to get sick.
The Hurunui District has long had water-quality issues, but residents are convinced it's worse than ever and many now buy all their drinking water.
Amberley resident Phillipa McDougall says her water is undrinkable and unsafe.
"It tastes disgusting and you can see it's not a normal, clear colour."
Ms McDougall says the water has killed several of her fish and made her kids sick.
"The kids have had a lot of diarrhoea since we moved out here eight months ago, and we never really had a problem when we lived in town."
Hundreds of residents are complaining about the water. They say it's discoloured, is causing hot water cylinder elements to corrode and damaging homes.
One couple spent $2500 on a water filtering system, which they say has improved it but not fixed the problem, and they are still buying all their drinking water.
"I think it's a disgrace that we've had to spend all that money and the water is still not of a high quality," says homeowner Lisa Larkin.
Wendy McDonald believes the water was giving her terrible eczema and wonders why they should even have to pay their rates.
"It's a basic necessity of life and you have the right to have clean water, and we are not getting up to the standard that it should be," says Ms McDonald.
Council staff weren't available to comment today, but have said earlier the water issue is a nuisance rather than a public health risk. They've offered to speak with any residents about their concerns.
The water has been given an "E" grade by the Ministry of Health, and the council has been given until 2025 to meet national drinking water standards, which they say will cost millions. But the residents say they need action sooner than that.
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