Beware of the Water Cops - Next week you can only use a sprinkler on Monday and Thursday before 9 a.m. and after 4 p.m. And may be in danger of being charged more if you don't reduce your usage.

Because of the drought, Los Angeles is restricting lawn watering effective June 1.

According to the plastic wrapped around the Sundays LA Times, it will be illegal to:

•Water with a sprinkler on any day other than Monday and Thursday.

• Water between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• Water with sprinklers more than 15 minutes per station or 10 minutes for other irrigation systems.

• Using water on hard surfaces such as sidewalk, driveways.

• Allow runoff into streets and gutters.

• Have leaky pipes or fixtures.

• Wash cars without using a shut-off nozzle on the hose.

• Serve water to customers in restaurants unless requested.

According to the LA Times: DWP water cops drive through neighborhoods in Los Angeles checking for water waste.

Residential DWP customers who violate the rules will be fined $100, which is double the old fine of $50 for a first-time offense, reports cbs2.com. For businesses, the fine "quadrupled to $200 from $50. ... Repeat residential offenders can be fined up to $300 and commercial customers up to $600."

As the statewide water shortage enters its third summer, the council has also revised water rates to penalize those who use too much water.

Under the new system, you must reduce your water use by 15%. or you will be charge the premium fee. ay you currently get 1,000 gallons; your new Tier 1 allotment will be 850. When your water usage hits 851 gallons in a billing cycle, the premium rates kick in.

If you exceed your lot's water allocation minus 15 percent, you will also be charged a premium rate. Pretty confusing.

To figure it out, got to DWP website, enter your customer number and address, and you will be given your allotment.

Report a violation by calling (800) 342-5397 or e-mailing waterconservationteam@ladwp.com. Or you can put a door tag (included in the Sunday LA Times) on your neighbors door and ask them to fix their leak or stop watering the sidewalk.