The Far North District Council imposed commercial and residential water restrictions at Opononi-Omapere last month, and now it's the turn of Kaikohe, Kaitaia and Rawene.
As of today it is illegal, under the council's general bylaw, to use an outdoor hose, fill a swimming pool or use any form of
irrigation or sprinkler system drawing from the council water supplies in any of those towns.
Infrastructure and assets general manager David Penny said there had been no significant rain in those areas since mid-December.
The streams and bores that fed the public water systems were approaching the minimum levels permitted by the regional council, giving the district council no option but to restrict the use of water.
"We're asking residents in these areas to limit water use to essential household purposes, and to reduce that consumption where possible," Mr Penny said.
