Katherine's new water treatment plant has been ordered with site works to start in July.
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Delivery of Katherine's new larger water treatment plant is underway with orders placed for the long lead items last month.
The long lead items were not specified but are expected to involve the construction and delivery of the new, larger plant from the US.
The new plant is expected to treat all of the town's drinking water and not the small portion the current emergency plant provides to remove contaminating PFAS from the water.
Engineers had decided a treatment plant 10 times the size of the emergency plant now operating in Katherine was needed.
The new larger plant is expected to remove PFAS from 10 megalitres of water whether from bore or river per day, ending the need for restrictions, first imposed in 2017.
Officials have long assured Katherine the delay in signing contracts would not delay its arrival, which they expected by the end of this year.
A Power and Water spokeswoman said the new plant would provide further reassurance that Katherine's drinking water will continue to be safe as it will meet the town's current and forecasted water use demands.
Power and Water general manager water services Steven Porter reiterated Power and Water's commitment to delivering a viable long-term solution for the ongoing supply of potable water for Katherine residents.
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"We have completed preliminary planning and design works and orders for the long lead items for the new plant have been placed," Mr Porter said.
A key milestone of the project will be in July when site works will start.
"The Katherine Show coincides with the commencement of site works and Power and Water will have a scale model of the new treatment plant on display at this year's show, which takes place in July."
To help manage the water supply in Katherine, Compulsory Water Conservation Measures were introduced in August 2017.
"Thanks to the efforts of the Katherine community, since the introduction of Water Conservation Measures, water use has generally reduced by around 20 per cent compared to historic levels. This has helped immensely in enabling Power and Water to deliver safe drinking water to Katherine residents," Mr Porter said.
Odds and evens water restrictions will need to continue this year to guarantee safe drinking water for residents.
There was no information about whether restrictions will need to continue next year as well, or how soon the plant will be installed.
The Department of Defence has agreed to pay for the plant, believe to cost about $15 million.
"Power and Water is committed to providing the residents of Katherine with a safe supply of drinking water," the spokeswoman said.
Officials say the town's drinking water remains safe to use.
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