Residents are expected to stop using sprinklers and irrigation systems under the restrictions. (file image) Photo: 123rf
South Wairarapa residents has moved to level two water restrictions on Saturday, but the area has 103 leaks in the public water network.
Residents are expected to stop using sprinklers and irrigation systems under the restrictions as the area faces dry weather and increasing demand in water use.
The ban will apply to all households in Featherston, Greytown, and Martinborough.
Wellington Water acting chief executive Susannah Cullen said she could appreciate people's frustration at being asked to conserve water when there were leaks in the network.
However, there was not enough funding from the council to fix all the leaks, Cullen said.
"So the biggest challenge for us is funding, and this is a problem that is faced by councils across the country - is having enough funding to put towards finding and fixing leaks," she said.
One of the reservoirs in South Wairarapa was at just 55 percent capacity on Friday, she said.
South Wairarapa lost about 46 percent of water supplied as a result of leaks in the past financial year.