Orange Garden Club publicity officer Zena Clout said she had no problems with the odds and evens system.

It has been in place since the last drought in 2010, although sprinklers have been outlawed as water storage levels have dropped. 

"You know the number of your house and that's when you water," she said. 

"I've watered like I normally would."

Mrs Clout said she had only lost one tree, which she did not think had been drought-related.

"Plants show us when they need water because they begin to fade," she said. 

She said mulch was a useful tool to keep moisture in. 

Suma Park Dam is now at 35.7 per cent capacity as of Friday, with total water storage at 42.5 per cent. 

Level three restrictions limit watering to 6am-9am and 6pm-9pm on the odds and evens system. 

Cars can only be washed with a bucket and while already-filled swimming pools can be topped up, the first fill is only allowed with council permission. 

Orange City Council expects to introduce level four restrictions by the end of the month, assuming no rain and no other inflows into Suma Park. 

The restrictions would introduce five-minute showers, eliminate lawn watering completely and reduce garden watering hours to evenings only.

Evaporative air conditioners would no longer be allowed to run between midnight and 7am. 

For water-saving tips, click here.

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