The meeting was held to detail figures uncovered by Macquarie University researcher Paul Harvey and Professor Mark Taylor and attracted residents from Pioneer, Gladstone, Derby, Branxholm and Ringarooma.

Mr Harvey’s paper showed maximum lead levels of 540 micrograms per litre in water race levels, and 220 micrograms per litre in public water supplies.

Australian Drinking Water Guidelines allow for a maximum presence of 10 micrograms.

Mr Harvey said that dilapidated infrastructure and infrastructure containing lead joins and pipes was to blame.

He said TasWater infrastructure and town piping was not the only cause of the lead contamination, highlighting potential causes within residents’ homes.

``The contamination is all present within the infrastructure and the home somewhere,'' Mr Harvey said.

``Data shows there is a contribution from within the property boundary, which is not surprising given the age of homes from the 1930s and older.''

He said that TasWater was invited to attend the meeting, but was not present.

Health Department representatives and Dorset councillors Dale Jessup, Leon Quilliam and Max Hall were also present at the meeting.

Cr Jessup said there was a strong sense of frustration from residents who were unable to drink their towns' reticulated water.

``One thing the community did outline was how difficult it was to get hold of the test results from any TasWater samples conducted,'' he said.

``We’re trying to get results from that, which are forwarded to the Health Department.

``We would like to go back to the community and let them know what those results are.''

TasWater late last week said that about 25 Tasmanian towns had unsatisfactory reticulated water and it was likely to be sometime in 2017 before the north-east's problems were addressed.

Premier Will Hodgman described the situation as unacceptable, but did not offer any funds to remedy it.