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HomeWater CodeDiv. 7Ch. 7Art. 7§ 13551 Recycled Water Use Requirement

§ 13551 Recycled Water Use Requirement

Water Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 13551 Recycled Water Use Requirement

Key Takeaways

  • •Don't use clean drinking water for things like watering parks or golf courses if recycled water is available.
  • •Using recycled water instead of clean water is a good and allowed use of water.
  • •Using recycled water doesn't take away anyone's existing water rights.

Example

A city wants to water the grass in a public park.

If recycled water is available, the city must use that instead of clean drinking water. This helps save clean water for people to drink.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 13551 Recycled Water Use Requirement

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. (Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 28, Sec. 40. Effective January 1, 1996.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

potable domestic usenonpotable usesrecycled waterreasonable beneficial use

Related Statutes

  • § 13550 Recycled Water Use Requirements
  • § 13555.2 Dual Pipeline Water Systems
  • § 13552.2 Residential Water Use Restrictions
  • § 13552.4 Recycled Water For Landscaping
  • § 13552.6 Water Use Restrictions For Cooling

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Water Code. Section 13551.
View Official Source