Taralga's new water treatment plant has been turned on, ending 10 weeks of tight restrictions and costly carting.
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The equipment arrived on February 3 and has undergone connection and testing in the fortnight since.
General manager Colleen Worthy said testing showed the water was suitable for drinking. The final stage was awaiting external testing by a National Association of Testing Authorities accredited organisation.
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The installation means water restrictions will be reduced from level three to level one, effective midnight, Thursday February 18.
"My first reaction is relief for the people of Taralga," Mrs Worthy said.
"They've been through so much, going back to the bushfires, then through the dam problems and then the electrical fault that caused the fire in the filtration system.
"This is one burden for the township that has been reduced as we continue to work through building a new dam."
The GM also praised staff for their expedience in getting the new plant up and running.
"The whole process, from the fire starting back on December 8, to this new working treatment plant in place, has been completed in 10 weeks," she said.
"Speaking to experts in the field, this process typically takes much longer to complete. And there haven't been any shortcuts to safety or quality, just the committed work by our staff, our suppliers and NSW government departments and agencies to get water restored to the people of Taralga as soon as possible."
The council purchased the plant from South Australia for $220,000.
Water carting to the Taralga Reservoir has now ceased. Contractors were bringing 200 to 240 kilolitres per day from Crookwell at an approximate $100,000 cost per month.
