Aucklanders are heeding calls to save water, but with only a few showers in the forecast compulsory restrictions remain a distinct possibility next month

Watercare has been encouraged that water use remains below 500 million litres a day, but says people still need to use less.

Watercare chief executive Raveen Jaduram says since the start of the year, Auckland's had only 47 per cent of the usual rainfall in catchment areas.

Water levels in the city's dams have dropped below 50 per cent, when the average for this time of the year should have them at 76 per cent.