Kiwis have a special connection with water, also known as wai. It's a taonga - treasure - that we all have a responsibility to care for and use responsibly – for our environment, our health and our future generations, says Western Bay of Plenty District Council.

"The council manages inground bores to supply your water. But in summer demand for water grows dramatically and we struggle to get enough water to everyone using it, which leads to restrictions,' says a council spokesperson.

"The good news is that we can easily avoid water restrictions."

Council say that if everyone starts using only the water they really need now and continues all year long, there will always be enough for everyone in the district.

"And the less we use, the more is left in the ground, providing for plants, animals and freshwater ecosystems."

Here are some tips provided by Western Bay of Plenty District Council to help save water this summer:

In the bathroom and laundry:

Check your showerhead is water efficient.

There's a simple trick to tell if your showerhead is wasting water. If you can fill a 10-litre bucket with water under the shower in less than a minute, you can do better. An efficient showerhead has a flow rate of up to 9 litres per minute.

Take shorter showers.

We are all familiar with this one. A five-minute shower uses about a third as much water as a bath.

Be wai-wise with your laundry.

When doing your laundry make sure you adjust the water level to suit the wash load, or if you have an older washing machine wait until you have a full load before starting the wash.

Stop dripping taps by replacing tired washers.

What can waste 4 litres of water per day? A dripping tap. By taking the time to fix those dripping taps, you'll be helping your water bill and the environment. There are videos online on how to fix a leaking tap, however if you're in any doubt about what to do, call a plumber.

In the kitchen:

Rinse dishes in a plugged sink or container.

It's simple - don't let the tap run. You can easily save water by rinsing in a bucket or plugged in sink. Even better, you don't have to pour all this water down the drain. You can use it to water some houseplants.

Recycle water from meal prep.

Cooking a big family meal? We use so much water in our food prep - there are vegetables to rinse, steam, and boil, hot water used for thawing, and water glasses to fill.

All of this water doesn't have to be poured down the drain after use. You can conserve water by recycling what's left over for other purposes. You can use the same water that you used to boil your vegetables to make some vegetable broth and you can use leftover water to water some house plants.

Outside the house:

Wash your car on the lawn.

This way your lawn can get a drink. Just be careful to not get the wastewater in any drains or streams.

Use mulch around your garden.

It reduces the speed of evaporation and prevents the spread of weeds.

Use sprinklers sparingly.

A better option is to use a ‘soaker hose' around the base of your plants where they need water most, or use a handheld watering can.

"Don't wait for restrictions to up your water saving skills,' says a council spokesperson.

For more tips on water conservation, visit westernbay.govt.nz/water-conservation