SB-31 (McNerney) Water quality: recycled water.

Would require associations to use recycled water to irrigate common area landscape if recycled water is available.

Current Status: Pending

FindHOALaw Quick Summary:

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.

This bill would amend Water Code Section 13551 to add common areas of a residential community irrigated by a homeowners’ association as prohibited uses of potable water. The bill would provide that incidental amounts of spray, mist, or runoff are not prohibited from entering outdoor eating areas of parks and open spaces when irrigated with disinfected tertiary recycled water that complies with specified regulations regarding irrigation.

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 amend Water Code Section 13552.4 to provide that outdoor landscape irrigation of common areas operated by a homeowners association is not to be considered a dual-plumbed system and would require recycled water used for this purpose to comply with specified provisions.