Level 1 restrictions are being introduced from July 1 to the towns of Aberdeen, Merriwa and Scone, as well as the village of Cassilis.

The move follows both Singleton and Muswellbrook Shire councils implementing mandatory limitations to locals in the past fortnight, too.

The aim is to reduce peak water consumption by limiting the following activities:

* Watering of lawns and gardens only between 6am to 9am and 6pm to 9pm (during summer Daylight Saving period); and 6am to 10am and 4pm to 10pm (the rest of year);

* Wash cars with a bucket and rinse with a trigger hose on your lawn;

* No washing of walls and paved surfaces (use a broom);

* For more information on water restrictions, visit http://upperhunter.nsw.gov.au/our-shire/water-restrictions.aspx

Upper Hunter Shire Council introduced water restrictions at Monday night's meeting not because of an imminent threat to the water supply in the towns, but to encourage responsible water use more generally, and to proactively respond to ongoing drought conditions.

Murrurundi has been on water restrictions since 2017 and Level 6 since mid-2018.

The town's water is currently coming from an emergency bore and water carting from Scone, with very little available from the Pages River.

Yet the rest of the Upper Hunter Shire is potentially entering its third summer in a row, of higher than average water consumption levels in Aberdeen, Merriwa and Scone.

In the 2017/18 year, water use in Scone and Aberdeen rose by 23 per cent on the previous year and, in Merriwa, use increased by 29 per cent.

Last summer council introduced voluntary Water-Wise Rules based on Level 1 restrictions.

So far in 2019, water use in Aberdeen, Merriwa and Scone has been more conservative than the previous year.

However, these towns are still on track to reach high levels of water use, particularly if low rainfall levels continue.

Council is reviewing the shire's 2014 Drought Management and Emergency Response Plan, aiming to simplify the levels and trigger points for restrictions which differ across the region.

Merriwa and Cassilis' water come from ground supply systems, whereas Scone and Aberdeen supplies come from Glenbawn Dam (a Hunter regulated river water source).

Glenbawn Dam was at 51.6 per cent capacity as at June 13, 2019.

Enforcement of the Level 1 restrictions in the shire will start from September 1 and residents and businesses are encouraged to adopt more water-wise practices wherever possible.