Hundreds of Otago residents from Waikouaiti, Karitane and Hawksbury Village packed into a public meeting on Wednesday night only to be told it will be months before they'll be able to drink water from their taps again.
They also may never know what caused the lead contamination.
A no drink notice has been in force since early February and will remain in place until old pipes with lead fittings are removed, which could take until June.
Reporter Tim Brown was at the meeting.
He spoke to Corin Dann.
