The Gore District Council has imposed a total sprinkler ban for the town.
Council water asset manager Sarah Dowling said recent dry weather had put pressure on the wells that fed Gore's municipal supply, so a total sprinkler ban was in force. Only hand-held hosing is allowed.
Ms Dowling said the Mataura River level was continuing to drop. Combined with the fine weather forecast, that necessitated imposing level-three water restrictions.
''The falling river level and lack of rain means the aquifers that feed the council's wells are not replenishing as quickly as they should be, which is why we have had to introduce further water conservation measures.''
It has been three weeks since the council initiated water restrictions to take pressure off the municipal water supply sources - Coopers Wells and Jacobstown.
District assets general manager Paul Withers commended residents for conservation, but said there was no room for complacency.
Level two restrictions stay in place for Mataura, which allows hosing, but on alternate days only.
