Invercargill residents who want to water their gardens today will need to use their bath or washing up water.

Those in the town are facing tough new water restrictions from today.

Extremely low flows in the Oreti River have prompted a crackdown on the use of any water outside.

The new more stringent new restrictions, in force from today, widen the ban to include the use of hand-held hoses and watering cans.

However, they can use recycled greywater on their gardens.

Invercargill City Council water manager Alister Murray said the rules are clear.

"People won't be able to turn the tap on and hose their gardens or lawns or pot plants, the only way they'll be able to do that is to use recycled greywater and bucket it out."

Murray said the river has been reducing in flow for a number of weeks amidst the hot, dry summer.

He said most people are sympathetic to the situation and are conserving water.

"Most people are s