SECTIONS 65601-65607 - California Statutes

GOVERNMENT CODE

SECTION 65601-65607

65601. This article shall be known and may be cited as the Water
Recycling in Landscaping Act.

65602. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) The waters of the state are of limited supply and are subject
to ever-increasing demands.
(b) The continuation of California's economic prosperity is
dependent on adequate supplies of water being available for future
uses.
(c) It is the policy of the state to promote the efficient use of
water through the development of water recycling facilities.
(d) Landscape design, installation, and maintenance can and should
be water efficient.
(e) The use of potable domestic water for landscaped areas is
considered a waste or unreasonable use of water within the meaning of
Section 2 of Article X of the California Constitution if recycled
water is available that meets the conditions described in Section
13550 of the Water Code.

65603. Unless the context requires otherwise, the definitions used
in this section govern the construction of this article:
(a) "Designated recycled water use area" means areas within the
boundaries of the local agency that can or may in the future be
served with recycled water in lieu of potable water and are so
designated by the local agency.
(b) "Local agency" means any city, county, or city and county.
(c) "Recycled water producer" means any local public or private
entity that produces recycled water in accordance with the conditions
described in Section 13550 of the Water Code.

65604. If a recycled water producer determines that within 10 years
the recycled water producer will provide recycled water within the
boundaries of a local agency that meets all of the conditions
described in Section 13550 of the Water Code, the recycled water
producer shall notify the local agency of that fact and shall
identify in the notice the area that is eligible to receive the
recycled water, and the necessary infrastructure that the recycled
water producer or retail water supplier will provide to support
delivery of the recycled water.

65605. (a) Within 180 days of receipt of notification from a
recycled water producer pursuant to Section 65604, the local agency
shall adopt and enforce a recycled water ordinance pursuant to this
article.
(b) The ordinance shall include, but not be limited to, provisions
that do all of the following:
(1) State that it is the policy of the local agency that recycled
water determined to be available pursuant to Section 13550 of the
Water Code shall be used for nonpotable uses within the designated
recycled water use area set forth by the local agency when the local
agency determines that there is not an alternative higher or better
use for the recycled water, its use is economically justified, and
its use is financially and technically feasible for projects under
consideration by the local agency.
(2) Designate the areas within the boundaries of the local agency
that can or may in the future use recycled water, including, but not
limited to, existing urban areas in lieu of potable water.
(3) Establish general rules and regulations governing the use and
distribution of recycled water in accordance with applicable laws and
regulations.
(4) Establish that the use of the recycled water is determined to
be available pursuant to Section 13550 of the Water Code in new
industrial, commercial, or residential subdivisions located within
the designated recycled water use areas for which a tentative map or
parcel map is required pursuant to Section 66426. These provisions
shall require a separate plumbing system to serve nonpotable uses in
the common areas of the subdivision, including, but not limited to,
golf courses, parks, greenbelts, landscaped streets, and landscaped
medians. The separate plumbing system to serve nonpotable uses shall
be independent of the plumbing system provided to serve domestic,
residential, and other potable water uses in the subdivision.
(5) Require that recycled water service shall not commence within
the designated recycled water use area in any service area of a
private utility, as defined in Section 1502 of the Public Utilities
Code, or to any service area of a public agency retail water supplier
that is not a local agency, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section
65603, except in accordance with a written agreement between the
recycled water producer and the private utility or public agency
retail water supplier that shall be made available in a timely manner
by the recycled water producer to the local agency adopting the
ordinance pursuant to this article.

65606. The recycled water ordinance adopted by a local agency
pursuant to Section 65605 shall not apply to either of the following:
(a) A tentative map as defined in Section 66424.5, or a
development, as defined in Section 65927, that was approved by the
local agency prior to the receipt of notification from a recycled
water producer pursuant to Section 65604.
(b) A subdivision map application that is deemed complete pursuant
to Section 65943 prior to the local agency's receipt of a notice
from a recycled water producer pursuant to Section 65604.

65607. (a) This article shall not apply to any local agency that
adopted a recycled water ordinance or other regulation requiring the
use of recycled water in its jurisdiction prior to January 1, 2001.
(b) This article does not alter any rights, remedies, or
obligations that may exist pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with
Section 13500) of Division 7 of the Water Code.
(c) This article does not alter any rights, remedies, or
obligations that may exist pursuant to Chapter 8.5 (commencing with
Section 1501) of Part 1 of Division 1 of the Public Utilities Code.