Invercargill city councillors have approved a search for underground water sources, but are yet to approve the up to $750,000 such an exploration would cost. A report, "Underground Water Supply Exploration for Emergency Alternative Source'', compiled by Land and Water Science was approved by the council's infrastructure and services committee meeting yesterday. "There is a degree of uncertainty in the success in locating a suitable underground ... but committing to exploration of underground water is a considerably cheaper option than developing a source,'' the report said. Invercargill has a single water supply, the Oreti River-Branxholme treatment plant. A report in 2017 warned the city could face claims from businesses forced to close, a government inquiry and widespread community discontent.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 25, 2019 15:22 UTC