Water security in remote Northern Territory Indigenous communities will be bolstered by new bores and improved water disinfection systems.
The six communities in Central Australia and four in the Top End will also have meters installed to monitor water use and reduce wastage.
"Reliable supply of quality water is the cornerstone of good health and better lives," Minister for Indigenous Essential Services Chansey Paech said on Thursday.
The work will start in Laramba, Engawala, Yuendumu, Epenarra, Imanpa, Atitjere, Warruwi and Numbulwar within 12 months.
Improvements are set to follow at Angurugu and Beswickare during the four-year, $28 million project.
The work also includes drilling seven new bores, reducing the risk of water-borne disease by revamping drinking water treatment systems and upgrading water supply systems to address shortages.
The Northern Land Council welcomed the announcement but said more work needed to be done to tackle poor water security in many other communities.
More than 30 communities in the NLC's area were assessed by the NT Power and Water Corporation in December 2019 as being at high, very high or extreme risk of water stress, chief executive Marion Scrymgour said.
This project "will not even touch the surface of this crisis", she said.
The NT is heavily reliant on groundwater for residential, industrial and agricultural water supply, with supplies running critically low in some areas.
Australian Associated Press
