Graeme Brown says he has been drinking bottled water for 20 years to avoid Dubbo's dirt-flavoured tap water.
He says it tastes, smell and feels strange.
"It smells like old brass — it's got a real stale smell, and the water's really hard," Mr Brown said.
"When you do the washing up you can smell it. I wouldn't drink it, and I wouldn't recommend drinking it."
Dubbo's tap water has been found to have high concentrations of geosmin, a chemical that causes an earthy taste and musty smell.
Dubbo mayor Mathew Dickerson said a succession of natural disasters was putting strain on the region's ageing water treatment plants.
"We've had the effect of climate change and environmental change, and then we've had these extreme events such as the drought, the bushfire, and the floods," Mr Dickerson said.
"It all impacts on the quality of the water we receive at the water treatment plant, and we have to try and deal with that."
Mr Dickerson said the plants were designed in 2006 when the town primarily relied on bore water.
The town has increasingly relied on the Macquarie River for water as the town has grown.
He said floodwaters have flushed large quantities of dirt and sediments into the river system, worsened by the debris left behind by bushfires.
Discoloured water but no health concern
High turbidity and algae have also plagued the Warrumbungle Shire area, where locals have seen brown water running out of their taps.
Warrumbungle deputy mayor Aniello Iannuzzi says he has seen discoloured water flowing from the taps at his house and his doctor's practice.
Dr Iannuzzi said it was often a result of ageing pipe infrastructure, both at a council level as well as individual properties.
While it isn't a health concern, he says it is unpleasant.
"It's more of a cosmetic and taste issue — although clearly if you're washing your clothes it can be an issue," Dr Iannuzzi said.
"Turbidity and discolouration of water is a frequent source of stress for residents and ratepayers in our shire."
Country councils underfunded
University of Western Sydney water researcher Ian Wright says there is a vast divide in water quality between cities and country towns.
He pointed to a "scathing" 2020 Audit Office report into the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment's water strategy, or lack thereof.
The report found the department had no long-term strategy and had "not effectively" supported or overseen town water planning since 2014.
"If you read these reports your blood will start to boil — why don't we look after our regional communities better," Professor Wright said.
"Our local government do so well, and they deserve a pat on the back ... they've got this continual struggle just to get water quantity, let alone the variable nature of [the quality]."
Professor Wright said country councils were dealing with a "literal" perfect storm, with floods, drought, and underfunding from state government.
Water minister Kevin Anderson said the NSW government was working to secure the future for regional town water supply.
He said they were putting $32.8 million towards Phase 2 of the Town Water Risk Reduction Program.
"Water is our most precious asset," Mr Anderson said.
"It is imperative that we are able to provide access to reliable town water for regional communities."
