Nelligen residents are one step closer to having access to reticulated drinking water and sewerage services for the first time, with construction about to commence on new pumping stations and transfer pipelines.

Walgett water quality has improved significantly since the town switched to river water permanently last week – with sodium levels now under 80 milligrams per litre.

The continuing severity of the drought has been reflected in the reduced, low or no water allocations for most NSW licensed regulated river water users announced today.