All systems are go at Waihi's new UV peroxide water treatment system, although residents may not notice the difference at first.

Hauraki District Council engineering services manager Adrian de Laborde says the Waihi reservoir contains roughly three days' water supply that will have to be worked through the system first.

The specialised system, designed and custom built in Canada to remove taste and odour from the town's water supply over the summer months, is one of two commissioned by the council following feedback from the community last summer.

A similar system will be installed at the Paeroa Water Treatment Plant in early February.

Likened to teenage boys' socks and mud by some, the `earthy' taste of the water is caused by compounds released into the water by dying algae and other bacteria in hot, dry weather.

Adrian says the problem was particularly noticeable to Waihi residents.

'Waihi's water needs have traditionally been met by the Walmsley Stream. However, this stream doesn't carry enough water to support demand during the dry season without water restrictions, so in December 2015 we installed infrastructure to take water from the Ohinemuri River for the first time.”

However, the Ohinemuri River is more conducive to algal growth than some of the district's other streams.

Waihi Ward Chair Max Mclean says while it's proven the water is safe to drink 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 when we switched to the new supply last summer so we've done something about it.”

Hauraki District Mayor John Tregidga says it was hoped the new system would be up and running before switching to the Ohinemuri water supply became necessary in Waihi this summer, but an unexpected delay in the arrival of the new system, combined with minimal rainfall prior to Christmas forced the switch on New Year's Day.

'I'd like to apologise for any inconvenience caused by this and thank all residents for their patience and understanding while we've worked to solve this issue,” he says.

'The good news is, thanks to this new technology, earthy tasting water is now a thing of the past in Waihi and will soon permanently disappear in Paeroa as well.”