LOWER Murray Water is urging customers to restrict their water use to avoid the implementation of water restrictions.

Due to recent flooding, which has resulted in poor raw river water quality, LMW has asked Mildura, Merbein and Irymple customers to turn off the taps where possible.

In text messages sent out to customers, LMW said the water quality was "resulting in our treatment plants taking longer to bring the water to Australian Drinking Water Standards".

"Please reduce non-essential water usage where possible to avoid the need to implement restrictions," the message read.

On its website, LMW stated non-essential usage included car washing or watering gardens and lawns.

Local customers have also been informed that there may be a change in the colour of their water, but the organisation said all water supplied was safe for drinking, bathing and cleaning.

LMW said the water-quality problem was likely to be an ongoing issue in the coming months as floodwaters receded.