Delegate's long-awaited water treatment plant, commissioned in early August, was officially opened last Friday.

Delegate Public School students, Snowy Monaro Regional Council (SMRC) councillors, SMRC CEO, Noreen Vu, community members, special guests and the water treatment plant team attended the opening of the new Delegate plant, then later in the afternoon another opening took place at the upgraded Bombala water treatment plant on Cathcart Road which was attended by Bombala Public School students.

The new state-of-the-art 350,000 litre per-day treatment plant and 300,000 litre backup storage reservoir at the Delegate water treatment plant provides residents with an essential commodity now and into the future, producing safe-to-drink tap water for the first time in the village’s history.

Alongside its sister project at Bombala, both facilities have been fully-funded by a $15 million investment from the NSW government’s Safe and Secure Water program. This grant money was given to SMRC by the state government in 2017. Both projects have significantly boosted drinking water quality for Delegate and Bombala.

The openings included tours of the water treatment plants by the official party and the school children. The students were able to learn how water comes from the river, is treated and then four hours later runs out of the taps.

School leaders from both schools also had the honour of cutting the ribbon with SMRC councillors to open the facility.

Cr Bob Stewart said it was a "great thrill" to see the projects finally completed.

"It's been a long time coming, the Delegate community especially has waited many years to to have potable water in their community," he said.

"The quality of the job, both in Delegate and Bombala, is amazing. The communities are very lucky, but they are essential upgrades.

"To have them fully state government-funded is a great result for the area and hopefully other local communities can get the same result in the future. It's been a good outcome and a good model, which we can hopefully continue around the region for the other towns and villages that need it," Cr Stewart said.

Council's mayor, Cr Chris Hanna, said it's important the communities have access to safe, drinkable tap water.

"The community now knows the water from their taps is clean, safe to drink and reliable.

"Cr Bob Stewart has been really focussed on getting these facilities for the people of Delegate and Bombala," Cr Hanna said.

"Thanks to the State government for its financial support. Usually with funding like this, council has to contribute some sort of funding as well to match. This time, the State government has put in 100 per cent of the funding - that is what's really important for this project.

"Congratulations to the community that lobbied really hard, and Cr Stewart who really pushed for this project to happen," Cr Hanna said.

"We do have plans to hopefully one day upgrade all our water treatment plants."