Hauraki District Council is focused on improving water quality in the district.
Two of only four specialist UV peroxide water treatment systems in the country will be installed at the Waihi and Paeroa Water Treatment plants over the next few months.
The Council says it hopes the systems, designed to remove unpleasant taste and odour, will be operating in time to head-off issues experienced with drinking water in both towns last summer.
The 'earthy' water taste that residents have experienced comes from compounds released into the water by dying algae over summer.
Waihi Ward Chair Max Mclean says while it's proven the compounds are harmless and won't cause illness, many people find the taste and smell off-putting.
"Waihi's drinking water definitely left a bad taste in many people's mouths last summer, so we're doing something about it," he said.
Group Manager Engineering Services Adrian de Laborde says the problem was particularly noticeable to Waihi residents.
"Waihi's water needs have been traditionally met by the Walmsley and Waitete Streams.
However, these streams don't carry enough water to support the town's demands during the dry season without water restrictions, so last year we installed infrastructure to take water from the Ohinemuri River for the first time," he said.
The Ohinemuri River is deemed more conducive to algal growth than the other streams.
"The Walmsley Stream river bed is predominantly stony while the Ohinemuri River is a bigger environment with a clay bed, so by default even without the presence of algae the water will taste different," de Laborde said.
In Waihi, the Council will try to avoid switching to the Ohinemuri River supply until the UV system is installed, but trade-offs for residents could include lower than usual water pressure, and/or water restrictions, depending on rainfall and the Walmsley and Waitete Stream levels over the coming months.
Council says there is no alternative water source for Paeroa but the new systems, which are manufactured in Canada, will be up and running mid to late January.