The City of Vancouver is cracking down on water use with the move to Stage 3 water restrictions, and it’s hitting water hogs with expensive reminders.

The latest restrictions — the toughest in 12 years — put in place on Monday, are posted online, and 14 bylaw officers are patrolling the streets on the lookout for for water wasters. They’re armed with written warnings, or worse — $250 tickets.

1400 warnings and 30 tickets have already been handed out, according to city staff.

For its part, the city stopped watering cemeteries and parks on July 7, and now it has limited spray park operation, and shut down ornamental fountains that don’t re-circulate water. City staff are even spot cleaning vehicles, to avoid car washing.

“We are approaching, right now, quite a serious situation,” said Jerry Dobrovolny, Vancouver’s acting general manager of engineering services.