The Health Minister isn't ruling out nationwide chlorination, though not all are happy about it. 

It's setting up a water watchdog to make sure we never repeat a massive campylobacter outbreak in Havelock North three years ago.

David Clark says the onus will be on councils to show water is safe to drink.

"Chlorination currently is regarded as the cheapest way of achieving that demonstration that water is safe because it is a systemic disinfectant."

Former cabinet minister and mayoral Chris Tremain told Heather du Plessis-Allan that we should consider all the alternatives before accepting chlorination. 

He says that the Minister has already hinted that they will allow non-chlorination in exceptional standards. 

"When you've got communities like mine that have had aqua fresh water for generations, you would want to know what are the standards that would allow you to meet those exceptional circumstances."