By Dan Whitcomb

LOS ANGELES (Reuters), Approximately 6 million Californians have been told to water their yards and gardens at least once a week. The Metropolitan Water District made the announcement Wednesday, citing California’s historical drought.

This order applies to some areas in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. It does not affect all counties.

Metropolitan Water District officials warned residents not to water their property if they don’t follow the original order. This will take effect from June 1st.

“If we don’t see cutbacks, or conditions do not get better, the Metropolitan board has given me the authority to ban all watering as soon as Sept. 1,” MWD general manager Adel Hagekhalil told a news conference, according to the Los Angeles Times.

It comes as a result of three years’ drought conditions in California. The local authorities will enforce the edict and impose a $2,000 sanction on anyone who waters their lawns more frequently than once per week.

This is the first time such restrictions were imposed.

This type of outdoor water restriction has not been used in Metropolitan before. Hagekhalil stated that we face unprecedented cuts in Northern California’s water supplies and must respond to them with unimaginable measures.

Last month, Governor Gavin Newsom urged Southern Californians not to use more water than 20-30 percent.