From midnight (1400 GMT Tuesday), teams of water restriction officers will begin patrolling Sydney and two surrounding areas for water wasters.

The move follows a long-running drought blamed by some on global warming and is the first time the city has imposed mandatory restrictions since October 1996. The drought has brought dam levels down to around 60 percent of capacity, down 13.5 percent on last year.

Sydney Water said Tuesday that it had gained the agreement of virtually all the local authorities to help police the bans.

"We've asked them if they will get involved in using their law enforcement teams to help us with patrolling and issuing fines, which they have agreed to do," managing director Greg Robinson told national radio.

"I am satisfied that we have got almost every council signed up now."

There was a big spike in water use last week ahead of the restrictions. Apart from sprinklers, there is a ban on other water systems and on hosing hard surfaces, including vehicles, paths and buildings. The public has one month's grace to comply with the bans before fines will be applied.

The goal is to reduce water consumption by at least seven percent.

Sydney Water has also urged its customers to useonly washing machines with full loads, use half-flushes on toilets and to turn off taps.

TERRA.WIRE