(1) The Water Recycling Law generally provides for the use of recycled water. Existing law requires any person who, without regard to intent or negligence, causes or permits an unauthorized discharge of 50,000 gallons or more of recycled water in or on any waters of the state to immediately notify the appropriate regional water board.
This bill would, for the purposes of the above provision, redefine "recycled water" and provide that water discharged from a decorative body of water during storm events is not to be considered an unauthorized discharge if recycled water was used to restore levels due to evaporation.
(2) Existing law regulating the use of recycled water prohibits the use of prescribed potable water by state and local agencies for any nonpotable uses, including cemeteries, golf courses, parks, and highway landscaped areas if prescribed recycled water is available, and deems use of the recycled water in lieu of the potable water to constitute a reasonable beneficial use of that water.
The bill would provide that incidental amounts of spray, mist, or runoff are to be permitted to enter outdoor eating areas of parks and open spaces when irrigated with disinfected tertiary treated recycled water that complies with a specified regulation regarding irrigation.
(3) Existing law authorizes any public agency, including a state agency, city, county, city and county, district, or any other political subdivision of the state, to require the use of recycled water for irrigation of residential landscaping, as specified.
The bill would provide that outdoor landscape irrigation of common areas operated by a homeowners association, as specified, is not to be considered a dual-plumbed system and would require recycled water used for this purpose to comply with specified provisions.
(4) Existing law authorizes any public agency, including a state agency, city, county, city and county, district, or any other political subdivision of the state, to require the use of recycled water for toilet and urinal flushing in structures, as specified. Existing law defines "structures" for the purposes of these provisions.
This bill would include food handling and processing facilities as part of the definition of "structures." The bill would authorize the use of recycled water for toilet or urinal flushing or outdoor irrigation in and around food handling or processing facilities, commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings, and cafeterias, provided the recycled water does not enter the room where food handling or processing occurs, as specified.

Statutes affected:
SB31: 13512 WAT
12/02/24 - Introduced: 13512 WAT
02/10/25 - Amended Senate: 13529.2 WAT, 13529.2 WAT, 13551 WAT, 13551 WAT, 13552.4 WAT, 13552.4 WAT, 13553 WAT, 13553 WAT, 13554 WAT, 13554 WAT, 13512 WAT
03/26/25 - Amended Senate: 13529.2 WAT, 13551 WAT, 13552.4 WAT, 13553 WAT, 13554 WAT
04/21/25 - Amended Senate: 13529.2 WAT, 13551 WAT, 13552.4 WAT, 13553 WAT, 13554 WAT
05/12/25 - Amended Senate: 13529.2 WAT, 13551 WAT, 13552.4 WAT, 13553 WAT, 13554 WAT