"I find it difficult to see that out of the whole community in Hastings and Havelock North only two people turned up," said Renouf, who lives in the suburb of Frimley.
The meeting had been publicised on several occasions, and Renouf said: "I just can't believe it. I don't know where the general public comes from at times."
Renouf said he had seen a similar lack of public interest last year, during the government-led inquiry into the contamination of Havelock North's water supply in 2016.
"I got the same message this time from the general public, than I did to do with the inquiry. I also went to the water inquiry and I was the only member of the public there on some days, and that was the same thing.
"I was totally amazed, after what had happened in Havelock North to find there was in general no interest at all in the inquiry and how they were going about it."
The government inquiry was the result of a 2016 campylobacter outbreak in Havelock North that left 5000 people sick, and was blamed for four deaths.
Although only two people attended Tuesday's public meeting on how safe water would be delivered, earlier this year about 100 Havelock North residents turned out for a public meeting discussing the odour from a local mushroom farm.
"It's unbelievable. This is about water, a fundamental of life, the smell is not going to affect the fundamentals of life," Renouf said.
A council spokeswoman says: "The investment by the council into the drinking water supply is significant and we are inviting the community to participate in some of the key decision-making so it is entirely up to the community as to whether they wish to participate."
