There is a newer version of the California Code
2005 California Water Code Sections 13550-13556 Article 7. Water Reuse
WATER CODESECTION 13550-13556
13550. (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the use of potable domestic water for nonpotable uses, including, but not limited to, cemeteries, golf courses, parks, highway landscaped areas, and industrial and irrigation uses, is a waste or an unreasonable use of the water within the meaning of Section 2 of Article X of the California Constitution if recycled water is available which meets all of the following conditions, as determined by the state board, after notice to any person or entity who may be ordered to use recycled water or to cease using potable water and a hearing held pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 648) of Chapter 1.5 of Division 3 of Title 23 of the California Code of Regulations: (1) The source of recycled water is of adequate quality for these uses and is available for these uses. In determining adequate quality, the state board shall consider all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, food and employee safety, and level and types of specific constituents in the recycled water affecting these uses, on a user-by-user basis. In addition, the state board shall consider the effect of the use of recycled water in lieu of potable water on the generation of hazardous waste and on the quality of wastewater discharges subject to regional, state, or federal permits. (2) The recycled water may be furnished for these uses at a reasonable cost to the user. In determining reasonable cost, the state board shall consider all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the present and projected costs of supplying, delivering, and treating potable domestic water for these uses and the present and projected costs of supplying and delivering recycled water for these uses, and shall find that the cost of supplying the treated recycled water is comparable to, or less than, the cost of supplying potable domestic water. (3) After concurrence with the State Department of Health Services, the use of recycled water from the proposed source will not be detrimental to public health. (4) The use of recycled water for these uses will not adversely affect downstream water rights, will not degrade water quality, and is determined not to be injurious to plantlife, fish, and wildlife. (b) In making the determination pursuant to subdivision (a), the state board shall consider the impact of the cost and quality of the nonpotable water on each individual user. (c) The state board may require a public agency or person subject to this article to furnish information which the state board determines to be relevant to making the determination required in subdivision (a). 13551. A person or public agency, including a state agency, city, county, city and county, district, or any other political subdivision of the state, shall not use water from any source of quality suitable for potable domestic use for nonpotable uses, including cemeteries, golf courses, parks, highway landscaped areas, and industrial and irrigation uses if suitable recycled water is available as provided in Section 13550; however, any use of recycled water in lieu of water suitable for potable domestic use shall, to the extent of the recycled water so used, be deemed to constitute a reasonable beneficial use of that water and the use of recycled water shall not cause any loss or diminution of any existing water right. 13552. The amendments to Sections 13550 and 13551 of the Water Code made during the first year of the 1991-92 Regular Session are not intended to alter any rights, remedies, or obligations which may exist prior to January 1, 1992, pursuant to, but not limited to, those sections or Chapter 8.5 (commencing with Section 1501) of Part 1 of Division 1 of the Public Utilities Code. 13552.2. (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the use of potable domestic water for the irrigation of residential landscaping is a waste or an unreasonable use of water within the meaning of Section 2 of Article X of the California Constitution if recycled water, for this use, is available to the residents and meets the requirements set forth in Section 13550, as determined by the state board after notice and a hearing. (b) The state board may require a public agency or person subject to this section to submit information that the state board determines may be relevant in making the determination required in subdivision (a). 13552.4. (a) Any public agency, including a state agency, city, county, city and county, district, or any other political subdivision of the state, may require the use of recycled water for irrigation of residential landscaping, if all of the following requirements are met: (1) Recycled water, for this use, is available to the user and meets the requirements set forth in Section 13550, as determined by the state board after notice and a hearing. (2) The use of recycled water does not cause any loss or diminution of any existing water right. (3) The irrigation systems are constructed in accordance with Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 60301) of Division 4 of Title 22 of the California Code Regulations. (b) This section applies to both of the following: (1) New subdivisions for which the building permit is issued on or after March 15, 1994, or, if a building permit is not required, new structures for which construction begins on or after March 15, 1994, for which the State Department of Health Services has approved the use of recycled water. (2) Any residence that is retrofitted to permit the use of recycled water for landscape irrigation and for which the State Department of Health Services has approved the use of recycled water. (c) (1) Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code does not apply to any project which only involves the repiping, redesign, or use of recycled water for irrigation of residential landscaping necessary to comply with a requirement prescribed by a public agency under subdivision (a). (2) The exemption in paragraph (1) does not apply to any project to develop recycled water, to construct conveyance facilities for recycled water, or any other project not specified in this subdivision. 13552.6. (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the use of potable domestic water for floor trap priming, cooling towers, and air-conditioning devices is a waste or an unreasonable use of water within the meaning of Section 2 of Article X of the California Constitution if recycled water, for these uses, is available to the user, and the water meets the requirements set forth in Section 13550, as determined by the state board after notice and a hearing. (b) The state board may require a public agency or person subject to this section to submit information that the state board determines may be relevant in making the determination required in subdivision (a). 13552.8. (a) Any public agency, including a state agency, city, county, city and county, district, or any other political subdivision of the state, may require the use of recycled water in floor trap priming, cooling towers, and air-conditioning devices, if all of the following requirements are met: (1) Recycled water, for these uses, is available to the user and meets the requirements set forth in Section 13550, as determined by the state board after notice and a hearing. (2) The use of recycled water does not cause any loss or diminution of any existing water right. (3) If public exposure to aerosols, mist, or spray may occur, appropriate mist mitigation or mist control is provided, such as the use of mist arrestors or the addition of biocides to the water in accordance with criteria established pursuant to Section 13521. (4) The person intending to use recycled water has prepared an engineering report pursuant to Section 60323 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations that includes plumbing design, cross-connection control, and monitoring requirements for the public agency, which are in compliance with criteria established pursuant to Section 13521. (b) This section applies to both of the following: (1) New industrial facilities and subdivisions for which the building permit is issued on or after March 15, 1994, or, if a building permit is not required, new structures for which construction begins on or after March 15, 1994, for which the State Department of Health Services has approved the use of recycled water. (2) Any structure that is retrofitted to permit the use of recycled water for floor traps, cooling towers, or air-conditioning devices, for which the State Department of Health Services has approved the use of recycled water. (c) (1) Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code does not apply to any project which only involves the repiping, redesign, or use of recycled water for floor trap priming, cooling towers, or air-conditioning devices necessary to comply with a requirement prescribed by a public agency under subdivision (a). (2) The exemption in paragraph (1) does not apply to any project to develop recycled water, to construct conveyance facilities for recycled water, or any other project not specified in this subdivision. 13553. (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the use of potable domestic water for toilet and urinal flushing in structures is a waste or an unreasonable use of water within the meaning of Section 2 of Article X of the California Constitution if recycled water, for these uses, is available to the user and meets the requirements set forth in Section 13550, as determined by the state board after notice and a hearing. (b) The state board may require a public agency or person subject to this section to furnish whatever information may be relevant to making the determination required in subdivision (a). (c) For the purposes of this section and Section 13554, "structure" or "structures" means commercial, retail, and office buildings, theaters, auditoriums, schools, hotels, apartments, barracks, dormitories, jails, prisons, and reformatories, and other structures as determined by the State Department of Health Services. (d) Nothing in this section or Section 13554 applies to a pilot program adopted pursuant to Section 13553.1. 13553.1. (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that certain coastal areas of the state have been using sea water to flush toilets and urinals as a means of conserving potable water; that this practice precludes the beneficial reuse of treated wastewater and has had a deleterious effect on the proper wastewater treatment process, and has led to corrosion of the sea water distribution pipelines and wastewater collection systems; and that this situation must be changed. (b) There is a need for a pilot program to demonstrate that conversion to the use of recycled water in residential buildings for toilet and urinal flushing does not pose a threat to public health and safety. (c) A city that is providing a separate distribution system for sea water for use in flushing toilets and urinals in residential structures may, by ordinance, authorize the use of recycled water for the flushing of toilets and urinals in residential structures if the level of treatment and the use of the recycled water meets the criteria set by the State Department of Health Services. 13554. (a) Any public agency, including a state agency, city, county, city and county, district, or any other political subdivision of the state, may require the use of recycled water for toilet and urinal flushing in structures, except a mental hospital or other facility operated by a public agency for the treatment of persons with mental disorders, if all of the following requirements are met: (1) Recycled water, for these uses, is available to the user and meets the requirements set forth in Section 13550, as determined by the state board after notice and a hearing. (2) The use of recycled water does not cause any loss or diminution of any existing water right. (3) The public agency has prepared an engineering report pursuant to Section 60323 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations that includes plumbing design, cross-connection control, and monitoring requirements for the use site, which are in compliance with criteria established pursuant to Section 13521. (b) This section applies only to either of the following: (1) New structures for which the building permit is issued on or after March 15, 1992, or, if a building permit is not required, new structures for which construction begins on or after March 15, 1992. (2) Any construction pursuant to subdivision (a) for which the State Department of Health Services has, prior to January 1, 1992, approved the use of recycled water. (c) Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code does not apply to any project which only involves the repiping, redesign, or use of recycled water by a structure necessary to comply with a requirement issued by a public agency under subdivision (a). This exemption does not apply to any project to develop recycled water, to construct conveyance facilities for recycled water, or any other project not specified in this subdivision. 13554.2. (a) Any person or entity proposing the use of recycled water shall reimburse the State Department of Health Services for reasonable costs that department actually incurs in performing duties pursuant to this chapter. (b) (1) Upon a request from the person or entity proposing the use of recycled water, the State Department of Health Services shall, within a reasonable time after the receipt of the request, provide an estimate of the costs that it will reasonably incur in the performance of its duties pursuant to this chapter. (2) For purposes of implementing subdivision (a), that department shall maintain a record of its costs. In determining those costs, that department may consider costs that include, but are not limited to, costs relating to personnel requirements, materials, travel, and office overhead. The amount of reimbursement shall be equal to, and may not exceed, that department's actual costs. (c) With the consent of the person or entity proposing the use of recycled water, the State Department of Health Services may delegate all or part of the duties that department performs pursuant to this chapter within a county to a local health agency authorized by the board of supervisors to assume these duties, if, in the judgment of that department, the local health agency can perform these duties. Any person or entity proposing the use of recycled water shall reimburse the local health agency for reasonable costs that the local health agency actually incurs in the performance of its duties delegated pursuant to this subdivision. (d) (1) Upon a request from the person or entity proposing the use of recycled water, the local health agency shall, within a reasonable time after the receipt of the request, provide an estimate of the cost it will reasonably incur in the performance of its duties delegated under subdivision (c). (2) The local health agency, if delegated duties pursuant to subdivision (c), shall maintain a record of its costs that include, but is not limited to, costs relating to personnel requirements, materials, travel, and office overhead. The amount of reimbursement shall be equal to, and may not exceed, the local health agency's actual costs. (e) The State Department of Health Services or local health agency shall complete its review of a proposed use of recycled water within a reasonable period of time. That department shall submit to the person or entity proposing the use of recycled water a written determination as to whether the proposal submitted is complete for purposes of review within 30 days from the date of receipt of the proposal and shall approve or disapprove the proposed use within 30 days from the date on which that department determines that the proposal is complete. (f) An invoice for reimbursement of services rendered shall be submitted to the person or entity proposing the use of recycled water subsequent to completion of review of the proposed use, or other services rendered, that specifies the number of hours spent by the State Department of Health Services or local health agency, specific tasks performed, and other costs actually incurred. Supporting documentation, including receipts, logs, timesheets, and other standard accounting documents, shall be maintained by that department or local health agency and copies, upon request, shall be provided to the person or entity proposing the use of recycled water. (g) For the purposes of this section, "person or entity proposing the use of recycled water" means the producer or distributor of recycled water submitting a proposal to the department. 13554.3. The State Water Resources Control Board may establish a reasonable schedule of fees by which it is reimbursed for the costs it incurs pursuant to Sections 13553 and 13554. 13555.2. The Legislature hereby finds and declares that many local agencies deliver recycled water for nonpotable uses and that the use of recycled water is an effective means of meeting the demands for new water caused by drought conditions or population increases in the state. It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage the design and construction of water delivery systems on private property that deliver water for both potable and nonpotable uses in separate pipelines. 13555.3. (a) Water delivery systems on private property that could deliver recycled water for nonpotable uses described in Section 13550, that are constructed on and after January 1, 1993, shall be designed to ensure that the water to be used for only potable domestic uses is delivered, from the point of entry to the private property to be served, in a separate pipeline which is not used to deliver the recycled water. (b) This section applies to water delivery systems on private property constructed within either of the following jurisdictions: (1) One that has an urban water management plan that includes the intent to develop recycled water use. (2) One that does not have an urban water management plan that includes recycled water use, but that is within five miles of a jurisdiction that does have an urban water management plan that includes recycled water use, and has indicated a willingness to serve the water delivery system. (c) This section does not preempt local regulation of the delivery of water for potable and nonpotable uses and any local governing body may adopt requirements which are more restrictive than the requirements of this section. 13556. In addition to any other authority provided in law, any water supplier described in subdivision (b) of Section 1745 may acquire, store, provide, sell, and deliver recycled water for any beneficial use, including, but not limited to, municipal, industrial, domestic, and irrigation uses, if the water use is in accordance with statewide recycling criteria and regulations established pursuant to this chapter.
Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. California may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.