Australia's peak water utilities body has warned a $150 million injection towards ensuring safe drinking water in remote and regional Indigenous communities is a far cry from a problem solved.
On Monday, the federal government's Closing the Gap Implementation plan announced an additional $424 million for a range of initiatives, within it a major boost toward water safety for those in desperate need.
While the Water Services Association of Australia welcomed the news, they said funds more more than ten times that being allocated are needed to properly address the issue.
WSAA's November report Closing the Water for People and Communities Gap, determined a figure of at least $2.2 billion to bring water supplies up to an acceptable quality nationwide.
"The announcement today on the 15th anniversary of the Stolen Generations apology to Parliament is a significant step by the federal government," WSAA executive director Adam Lovell said.
"By expanding the rules for funding through the National Water Grid after many years of inaction, finally there is money on the table to invest in improving water quality and health outcomes for First Nations communities.
"We estimate that it will require a minimum investment of $2.2 billion to bring drinking water in line with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, more when you include replacing old pipes and plumbing."
Mr Lovell said the money required to rectify is likely to blow out well past their estimations once background work and planning is conducted.
The requirements already concern individual projects required to access safe drinking water, systems for quality monitoring and a range of measures on the ground around the country to shrink the disparities currently present between cities and parts of the bush.
WSAA says more than 500 First Nations communities do not have regular water quality testing, with uranium, arsenic, fluoride and nitrate levels above national guideline standards in many remote areas.
The impact of low water quality extends past drinking and into areas of day-to-day life like bathing, washing and in some cases; even reliable air conditioning.
At present, measures in place for monitoring and ensuring water quality vary between state and territories.
WSAA recommends a nationwide framework to effectively address the issue and lift up disadvantaged communities to standards inline with the rest of the country.
They also advocate for self-determination and empowering Indigenous communities decision making ultimately concerning them.
Since releasing their report WSAA have been developing a proposal to assist State and Federal governments, water utilities, Indigenous councils, community organisations and communities into efforts moving forward and Closing the Gap.
