Tauranga City's water supply is back to normal today after heavy rain caused an overload of dirty, silty water cutting the supply to 50 per cent.

The storm on Wednesday and Thursday last week loaded the streams with more silt than the filtration plants at Oropi Road and Joyce Road can handle.

Before (below) and during (above) the flood at one of the city water supply plants. Photos; TCC.

Both plants were shut down at various times over the two days. The Oropi plant remained closed most of Wednesday.

City waters staff worked through Wednesday night to keep the city's water supply working, but both plants were below capacity, reducing the city's supply by half.

It kept the city supplied but left no excess for emergencies, and requests were made to conserve water.

Supplies recovered on Sunday, and all is back to normal today, says Council communications advisor Marcel Currin.