Aboriginal organisations in the western NSW town of Walgett are worried about water after 90 per cent of residents reported concerns with the quality, smell and contamination of the supply.
And with a hot, dry summer forecast, residents say they need the issue addressed as a matter of urgency.
NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson said she had called an executive-level meeting with a range of departments to examine measures to improve Walgett's water quality.
"I am also working on getting out to Walgett as soon as possible to meet with the community and (Independent Barwon MP) Mr Butler to see what else we can do to get this fixed," she said.
Researchers from the University of NSW and George Institute for Global Health warned the sodium content of Walgett's water supply is 15 times higher than recommended for long-term consumption by people with severe hypertension or renal and heart issues.
Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service chief executive Christine Corby said blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes were common health issues in the region.
"Unfortunately in our community there is a high incidence of chronic disease," she said.
"I believe this is going to worsen given the very real risks we know are associated with high sodium intake.
"I worry about people who have no choice but to drink straight from the tap and I worry about how many people are not having enough nutritious food to eat and how this will impact on their long-term health."
In their report, the research team found the combination of climate change and water mismanagement across the Murray-Darling Basin has threatened both the quality and quantity of Walgett's surface waters.
"While drought impacts overall flow, upstream industry threatens river quality and quantity through over-extraction and pollution," the report said.
"When the rivers run dry or are unsafe, the town switches its supply to bore water from the Great Artesian Basin, which has high sodium levels."
A survey conducted by the research team, in partnership with Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service and the Dharriwaa Elders Group, found more than half of respondents adjusted what they ate so they could buy bottled water, with some paying up to $50 a week to avoid using water from the tap.
Dharriwaa Elders Group secretary Virginia Robinson called for a multi-agency task force to improve Walgett's water quality and security.
"These threats to our public health would not be tolerated in Sydney so why is it acceptable that we have to live with them in Walgett?" she said.
Wendy Spencer, a project manager with the Dharriwaa Elders Group, said she was glad Ms Jackson was planning to visit Walgett.
"The status quo is not good enough," she told AAP.
"We know the Murray-Darling Basin Plan isn't going to resolve this.
"A hot, dry summer is coming and action is overdue."
Survey of 250 people in the Walgett region:
* 83 per cent relied on bottled water in at least one month in the past 12 months
* 90 per cent said they were concerned by the quality, smell, contamination of water
* 42 per cent reported no usable or drinkable water whatsoever in at least one month
* 36 per cent reported going to sleep thirsty in at least one month
* 67 per cent worried about not having enough water
* 54 per cent changed what they ate due to not having enough water
