The region already uses 10 per cent more water than other areas of NSW and 20 per cent more than some parts of the country.

If current weather patterns continue it's inevitable a hot summer will arrive with less water in the dams.

The Bureau of Meterology forecast shows it will be drier than usual for the rest of winter and there is a slim chance of above average rain in spring.

Level one water restrictions will hit when the combined total storage reaches 60 per cent. That's set to happen in August.

Level two restrictions will follow in December if nothing changes.

Right now the overall storage is 67.5 per cent and the average resident is using 190 to 200 litres per day in their home. That's just over 75 per cent of a standard garbage bin.

Almost half of that water is used in the bathroom. Thirty per cent is used in the shower and at the basin and twenty per cent is flushed down the toilet.

Twenty per cent is used in the laundry and another 20 per cent is used outdoors, mainly for watering gardens.

Related: Sydney put on water restrictions

If residents used 10 per cent less water the daily usage would be between 171 and 180 litres.

A 20 per cent reduction would lead to a use of 152 to 160 litres per day.

A Hunter Water spokeswoman said the region's water storage was the lowest it had been in 13 years.

She urged residents to be conscious of their use of water in and around the home.

"Our dams fill quickly when it rains, but they also drop quickly during dry weather due to evaporation," she said.

"While we can't control the weather, we can control the amount of water we use in our homes.

"Now more than ever we need to Love Water.

"Hunter Water is encouraging everyone to help us conserve water by making small changes at home such as reducing showers to four minutes, watering the garden after 4pm and before 10am and fixing leaks around the house."