Contractors work on the Te Mato Vai water project in Rarotonga, Cook Islands Photo: Phillipa Webb / Cook Islands News
The Cook Islands Ministry of Health is concerned about increasingly poor water quality in the country.
Secretary of Health, Josephine Herman, says new drinking water standards endorsed this month will reduce the risk of disease outbreak.
The country's water supplier, To Tatou Vai, says the government is investigating water disinfection options ahead of community consultations in 2019.
There are also discussions on minimising the environmental impact of single-use and non-biodegradable plastics.
The Te Mato Vai water project will also improve water safety and support waste minimisation by providing portable drinking water access, To Tatou Vai said in a statement.