The lead contamination in East Otago has cost Dunedin City Council more than 800 thousand dollars

Residents in Waikouaiti , Karitane and Hawksbury have been avoiding tap water since early February, because of lead detected in water supplies.

The Otago Daily Times reports the largest cost has been in tests at multiple water sites - with a price tag of about 200 thousand.

Water tankers cost close to 150 thousand, and a lead monitor from Belgium came in at a hundred thousand dollars.

Money also went into risk assessment and other testing.