A hosepipe ban will come into force in Northern Ireland from this weekend.
The move by Northern Ireland Water is to stop any interruptions to supplies.
The hot weather is expected to last for the foreseeable future.
NI Water chief executive Sara Venning said the company is appealing to customers to prevent non-essential use, as hoses and sprinklers were causing strain on supplies.
“In recent days our treatment works have been operating at near maximum levels with over 700 million litres of water being put into the network, which is some 25% more than is normal for this time of the year.
“It would be our intention to introduce a formal hose pipe ban in an effort to protect the public against the increased threat of supply interruptions,” she said.
The ban prohibits watering private gardens or washing private cars and the company has said that its introduction will take effect from the weekend.
Some areas, including Belfast and Armagh, have already experienced loss of pressure and supply failures.
Alarming statistics show that a bath uses around 80 litres of water whereas showers in comparison use around 35 litres. And leaving the tap running when brushing your teeth wastes 8,000 litres of water a year.
Water saving tips:
Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth
Take shorter showers, or take a shower instead of a bath – swapping a daily bath for a shower could save nearly £50 a year.
Use a bowl for washing vegetables instead of running the tap.
Only fill the kettle with as much water as you need.
Avoid washing cars, but if you have to, use a bucket and sponge.
