A $37.04 rebate for discoloured and unpalatable water that poured from local taps between December and April will be paid to 135 properties, Yass Valley Council has revealed.
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At its July meeting, the council agreed to offer a maximum $42 rebate, equivalent to 15 kilolitres of water.
The council first thought 43 properties would be eligible, but that number jumped to 135 as staff searched through records for all the complaints received between January 1 and April 30.
Eligible households will receive a notice in the mail and the $37.04 will be taken off their next water bill.
Leesa Scanes is among the residents expecting the rebate after having complained several times.
"I could have rung every day," Ms Scanes said.
"However, I got frustrated with being told to run my taps until the water was clear as that was costing me money.
"I rang up and sent emails, rang the after-hours mobile also."
Others are disappointed to miss out on the rebate.
Lyn and Terry Rudd live in Yass and complained to the council about their water, but not until June.
Mr Rudd said he didn't think it was fair that only those who complained between January and April would be eligible.
"What a joke, but no one in Yass is laughing," he said.
Allan McGrath also lives in Yass and said the rebate was a "pittance".
He didn't experience poor water quality over summer/autumn, but sympathised with those who did.
He thought the council should have assessed properties affected by poor water quality individually and compensated them on their merits rather than refund those who lodged complaints.
"If more than $5000 is required, then the council should find it," he said, pointing out that the discoloured water had damaged items such as clothing for some residents.
Another resident, Christine Carroll, said she'd prefer to see the $5000 spent on upgrading the water treatment plant sooner.
The council said it was on track to complete the business case for the new Yass water treatment plant by October 2020.
The council will then need to provide a further submission to the NSW government to fully fund the construction of the work.
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