Compulsory water restrictions for Auckland are almost certain next month amid a severe drought that's seen the region's storage dams drop below 50 per cent.
Aucklanders have been asked to make voluntary savings for outdoor activities like watering gardens, washing cars and water blasting houses, but these measures are expected
to become compulsory given the weather forecast indicating the drought will continue over the coming weeks.
Watercare has said it could introduce a second level of more severe water restrictions that would impact on businesses if dam levels drop below 40 per cent.
Watercare chief executive Raveen Jaduram said the council-owned water company does not want to add to the demands people are facing with the Covid-19 lockdown, but the city has reached a trigger point where it must consider mandatory water restrictions.
"Since the start of the year, we've received less than half [47 per cent] the usual rainfall in our water catchment areas. So to receive yet another dry forecast is very concerning," he said.
