Ruapehu residents are being asked to make every drop of water count as the region's rivers and soil moisture drop to very low levels and water sources are now under extreme pressure.
The rain that fell over the region yesterday has not been enough to quench the land.
Raetihi residents in particular, need to be especially careful with water use as their water source is under significant pressure, says Ruapehu District Council environmental manager Anne-Marie Westcott.
"All Ruapehu communities need to start using water sparingly, and until we have some significant rainfall we all need to be very mindful of our water usage."
Ms Westcott said council was asking residents to take all practical water conservation measures where they could.
"People should only use handheld hoses in the evening on their vegetable garden and avoid any form of non-essential watering systems."
Other water conservation measures people should adopt include taking shorter showers and not baths, fixing any leaks and dripping taps, only using washing machines and dishwashers with full loads and checking water troughs for leaks.
Residents can go to council's website www.ruapehudc.govt.nz for water conservation tips or call into any council office to pick-up a brochure.