In the remote Aboriginal community of Laramba, residents are celebrating.
Men, women and children yell "kwatye mwarre" in unison, holding up recycled bottles of crystal-clear water.
It means "water good" in Arrernte.
For the first time in a long time, locals feel safe to drink their tap water.
To most, this would be a necessity taken for granted, but to this community it is a luxury.
"It's a spring water taste and it's pretty good," Anmatjere man Ron Hagan said, taking a drink.
"It's just like what you get from the shops."
Uranium almost triple the recommended levels
Laramba is a tiny desert community of 300, more than two hours north-west of Alice Springs.
Since 2008, residents have known their bore water contained naturally occurring uranium.
But a study in 2018 by NT Power and Water revealed the sheer scale of the problem.
Results showed uranium levels in the town reached up to 0.055mg/L – almost triple what is recommended by the Australian drinking water guidelines.
"People started worrying. They were a bit scared about the water," Mr Hagan said.
Some residents feared it was contributing to renal disease, with local doctors also expressing concerns about the long-term effects.
However, NT Health said research into uranium's health impacts on humans was "limited and inconclusive".
New plant purifies drinking water
This week the community's fears have come to an end, with the NT government officially opening a new $6.8 million water treatment plant for the town.
Designed by water treatment company Clean TeQ, the plant uses an ion-exchange resin process to purify the water.
Already, uranium levels in the town have plummeted and are now almost undetectable.
An official launch was held this week, with more than 30 community members attending.
Central Desert Regional Council chief executive Leslie Manda said the big turnout was a testament to how excited the residents were.
Other communities impacted by water risks
The council has been lobbying for years for the NT government to urgently treat Laramba's water.
Since May last year, council workers have been distributing free boxed water provided by NT Health to residents.
"Residents were saying they were turning to soft drinks on occasion, especially if they had no alternative water supply," Mr Manda said.
"That was part of the push for the advocacy from us to distribute some of the bottled water."
According to a recent water quality report from NT Power and Water, Laramba is not alone.
Nine other remote communities have tap water with levels of uranium, manganese and fluoride that surpass guidelines.
But according to legal experts, there is no legal requirement in the Northern Territory for landlords to provide safe drinking water to tenants.
However, NT Power and Water said it was committed to providing safe, secure and sustainable water to all Territorians, regardless of where they lived.
"We will continue to work with communities to respond to their needs, including investing in research and technology where appropriate," a spokesperson said.
Hope for Laramba's future
Sitting on his verandah, Mr Hagan sips from a glass of water.
While he has continued to drink water from his tap throughout the years, he has always felt uneasy about how it might be affecting his health.
But now, at last, he feels at peace.
Holding up his glass, he proudly points out how clear the water is, how sweet it tastes.
And already, he feels better about the future of his community.
"Everybody's so happy," he said. "I think it certainly might give us a bit of a longer life."
