Wairarapa Water Use Project Leadership Group chairwoman Fran Wilde said the project could cost hundreds of millions of dollars and take about 10 years to put together. But she stressed the estimates were still "extremely preliminary".
So far, the 12-month investigation has been a partnership with the Irrigation Acceleration Fund, under the Ministry of Primary Industries.
The nine sites, narrowed down from 243 locations, are mostly on private land in south Martinborough, White Rock Rd, Mangatarere, Black Creek, Kiriwhakapapa, Te Mara, Te Ore Ore, Dorsets Rd and Mauriceville West.
Several more options may be considered in the upper Tauweru catchment area.
Ms Wilde said there was sufficient water available in winter running off the Tararua Ranges to refill dams for summer.
Their "whole of the valley" approach would require between 5 and 13 per cent of the average volume flowing from the valley in a 1-in-10 dry year, between 250-300 million cu m.
Users could be shareholders, or pay for the water use.
"We do not expect all these sites to be suitable, for a range of social, technical, economic, cultural or environmental reasons.
"The next step is to gather more in-depth information, which will provide greater confidence as to which sites are most suitable."
A pre-feasibility study will take about a year to finalise sites for a full feasibility study.
Around 200 landowners across the valley had been interviewed.
The group had also contacted 80 landowners associated with the nine chosen sites, with eight responses.
Some had expressed concerns about effects on their future plans.
Ms Wilde was asked if the latest drought had helped their cause.
"It is a fact, we will be getting more extreme events, floods and droughts," she responded.
"We need to be aware of that."
She estimated irrigation benefits, over 20 years, could equate a $400 million GDP increase to the Wairarapa community.
"This has a huge economic impact for Wairarapa, a complete change on the economic landscape.
"People will be looking at land use change, not just dairying."
She said there was potential for investors but the cost was too big for locals.
"I would love to think there is a sense of ownership but we will need outside funding."
More details can be found at www.wairarapawater.org.nz
