The dam is sitting at 66 per cent, or 66,000 gigalitres, and Tamworth is currently sourcing water from the Peel due to its high flow.

But the warm summer months are just around the corner and locals fear the additional 1100 households could take their toll on the region’s water supply.

Tamworth Regional Council’s water director Bruce Logan said Tamworth could provide water for the two villages “indefinitely”.

“It’s not a concern to me if they have to rely on Tamworth supply indefinitely, we certainly have the capacity to do that,” Mr Logan said.

While the matter is not “urgent”, council has to decide if Kootingal and Moonbi’s future lies in groundwater or town water.

“What council needs to consider is what do they want to do? Abandon the groundwater supply for Moonbi-Kootingal?” Mr Logan said.

“Is that the best way to supply water to Moonbi-Kootingal long term? Council would have to consider that.”

Council is in uncharted waters, as the uranium contamination is believed to possibly be the first of its kind in the state.

The bore will continue to be tested, but Mr Logan said he was unsure if the elevated uranium levels would fall back to a normal level.

He said council was waiting on the results of a number of test, along with advise from the NSW Department of Health.

The contaminated bore, or all the bores, may need to be decommissioned.

“We are considering whether we put the bores back to services – if we can’t supply water that doesn’t meet the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, the we won’t put those bores back into service,” Mr Logan said.

“Do we want to look at abandoning one bore of the four, or some combination?

“As long as we’re complying with [the guidelines], we should be able to guarantee the safety of our water.”