Water conservation message is not getting through to the people in the Thames/Coromandel area.

Water supply situation there has become urgent as the reservoir levels decline.

Infrastructure Manager Mohamed Imtiaz says despite having maximum restriction in place for a few days, residents continue to use large amounts of water.

'It's more than the treatment plants can produce, and the networks in both communities are under significant pressure.

'With treatment plants at their maximum production rate, residents need to conserve water urgently and they will be receiving a notice in the mail informing them of the restriction.”

'Of course we recognise it's hot, but we need people to please not use water unnecessarily”.

Both Thames and Coromandel are on a total watering ban.

This means all use of water outside the house is banned.

This includes watering lawns and gardens, washing cars, houses, and decks, filling paddling pools and playing under sprinklers.

All other parts of the district are currently on a ‘conserve water' restriction, which means residents and holidaymakers are being asked to keep using water carefully to ensure supply continues.

Current restrictions:

• Coromandel Town – Total watering ban
• Thames – Total watering ban
• Hikutaia - Conserve water
• Puriri - Conserve water
• Matatoki - Conserve water
• Matarangi - Conserve water
• Hahei - Conserve water
• Tairua - Conserve water
• Pauanui - Conserve water
• Onemana - Conserve water
• Whangamata - Conserve water
• Whitianga – Conserve water

The Thames-Coromandel District Council says they will keep monitoring water use in their nine urban and two rural water supply schemes regularly and reviewing water restrictions daily. Any changes are posted on their website, email newsletters and Thames-Coromandel District Council Facebook page.

Please report water wastage and water leaks to Customer Service on 07 868 0200.

Top 5 smart water conservation tips

• Wait until you can do full loads before you wash dishes or use the washing machine.
• Don't run the water when brushing your teeth.
• For cool drinking water, fill a jug and keep it in the fridge. Running water to cool it down can waste 10 litres a minute.
• For lawns, apply the ‘step test' – if grass springs back after you walk on it, it doesn't need watering.

If your toilet has a dual-flush button, use the half flush.