SAN DIEGO -- Residents were urged Friday to report flagrant water wasters to the city in an effort to conserve the resource.

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders recently declared, and the City Council affirmed, a "stage 1" water shortage emergency that calls for San Diego residents to voluntarily conserve water or face mandatory restrictions in the future.

The stage 1 emergency prohibits any "wasteful or unreasonable" use of water, Sanders said.

"While we certainly won't be going door-to-door in search of violations, we are asking San Diegans to report any water waste to the city's Water Department," Sanders said.

However, he said that before residents turn in their neighbors that they give them a chance to mend their ways.

"I would encourage people to knock on their neighbors doors to let them know their sprinkler is broken before notifying the Water Department," Sanders said outside City Hall.

The mayor also outlined other actions residents should take to conserve water including:

washing cars and other vehicles using a bucket

using hose nozzles that automatically shut off

not overflowing swimming pools

serving water at restaurants only on request

not washing down driveways and sidewalks

using re-circulating pumps on ornamental fountains

"These are recommendations for voluntary changes in behavior that we have shared many times before," Sanders said. "What makes this list different is that all of these recommendations will become requirements should we implement the next steps in water conservation called out in the municipal code."

Sanders said the city could move to mandatory conservation early next year if there is not enough rain this winter.

"If we move to mandatory restrictions, violating these practices will be against the law," the mayor said.

Water wasters can be reported to the Water Department by calling 619-515-3500 and pressing 5.

San Diego declared the water shortage emergency amid ongoing drought conditions and a judge's recent ruling that limits the amount of water that can be pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to protect an endangered species of fish.

Water Department Director Jim Barrett said the city is being told there is still an "adequate supply" of water, but that could change if residents don't conserve and winter rains are inadequate.