Tauranga City Council is asking residents and businesses to be conservative with their water use over the next few days as they current supply is at 50 per cent.

'When the sun comes out over the weekend, please reach for the rake or broom instead of hosing away leaf debris,” says a Water Services team leader Peter Bahrs.

Oropi drinking water supply intake.

TCC staff working to clean the screens at Oropi.

'This week's heavy rain has caused problems for the city's water processing plants.”

Rain has fallen more heavily in the water catchment than in the city, loading up the drinking water supply streams with more dirt and silt than the processing plants have been able to cope with.

'Both of the city's two water processing plants (Oropi Road and Joyce Road) have had to be turned off at various times over the past two days. The Oropi plant was closed most of yesterday.

'Staff worked all through last night to keep the city's water supply working. Both plants are now operating but at lower capacity than normal. '

The city's drinking water supply is sitting at around 50 per cent.

'This is still a comfortable level but doesn't allow capacity for any unforeseen emergencies, such as a large watermain break or any unusual demands, hence the request for customers to be conservative in their water use over this period.”

All going well the city's water supply will be fully restored by Tuesday.