Hamilton is banning the use of garden sprinklers for the first time in seven years, as the city faces record water use.
Council City Waters Manager Maire Porter said there had been a 30 percent increase in outside water use compared to the same period last year.
She said the average daily use was about 55 million litres a day, but had recently risen to more than 80 million litres a day.
About half the usage was for lawns, gardens, pools and washing vehicles and boats, she said.