Meters on Carterton water connections have cut water usage in the town by almost a third, says Carterton District Council operations manager Garry Baker.
Mr Baker said after metering for the urban water was introduced three years ago, the district is now posting water usage savings of at least 30 per cent a year.
Water for urban Carterton comes from the Kaipatangata Stream west of the town and peak demand in summer was taxing the supply beyond its measure, he said.
"Pressure was being put on us for our resource consents and we were having to stop and start our supplementary supply."
The town previously relied on a 500cu m reservoir at Kaipatangata Stream, which was frequently outstripped in summer.