Hopes are high the Cook Islands parliament will reconsider some of the water charges planned to pay for the agency that will run Rarotonga's new reticulation system.
Contractors work on the Te Mato Vai water project in Rarotonga, Cook Islands Photo: Phillipa Webb / Cook Islands News
Public consultations have just been held on legislation establishing the To Tatou Vai authority.
Concerns raised include the use of chlorine to disinfect the water, and the plan to charge residents for some of the water they use.
Andy Kirkwood of activist group, Te Vai Ora Maori, said the consultations had given a rare chance for people to have their say.
"What's come forward is that there's still significant concern about chemicals, significant concern about [how] households will afford monthly bills.
"It may not seem much from New Zealand but we have only just had our minimum wage increase to $NZ8 a hour, so for a lot of families the monthly charge proposed for the water charges, it's a significant burden for them."
Kirkwood said the charges could mean a typical house paid about $NZ1000 a year more.
Opposition members of the select committee say they want change and the authority has indicated some of the contentious elements on water charges will be re-written.
This includes ending a ban on people opting out of the scheme.