Recycled Water Use
Purpose
To supplement San Francisco’s imported water supplies and save valuable drinking water, recycled water will be used for applications such as landscape irrigation, toilet/urinal flushing, cooling and water features.
Who Must Comply?
Owners of properties within designated recycled water use areas that have: (1) 40,000 sq ft or more of new construction or major alterations to a building; (2) are subdivisions; or (3) have 10,000 sq ft or more of new or existing landscaping not constructed in conjunction with a development project.
Water is too precious a resource to use just once. Recycled water offers a new water source for non-drinking purposes in San Francisco. Developing recycled water in San Francisco provides us with a drought-resistant and sustainable water source for uses such as park and golf course irrigation, and toilet flushing, thus conserving valuable drinking water.
The City and County of San Francisco’s Recycled Water Ordinance requires property owners to install recycled water systems in new construction, modification, or remodel projects. The goal of the Ordinance is to maximize the use of recycled water. Buildings and facilities that are located within the designated recycled water use areas are required to use recycled water for all uses authorized by the State of California.
For additional information, please review the City of San Francisco's Public Works Code Article 22.
Resources
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do the requirements apply to my project?
The requirements of the Recycled Water Ordinance apply to properties located within the designated recycled water use areas (see map below) under the following circumstances:
- New construction or major alterations to a building totaling 40,000 square feet or more
- All subdivisions
- New and existing irrigated areas of 10,000 square feet or more not constructed in conjunction with a development project
In a mixed-use residential building where a recycled water system is installed, any restaurant or other retail food-handling establishment must be supplied by a separate potable water system to ensure public health and safety.
To determine if a property is in a designated recycled water use area, enter the property address (e.g., “525 Golden Gate, San Francisco”) in the mapping tool below. Be sure to include “San Francisco” in your search. If the property appears in the purple-colored area and meets at least one of the criteria above, then the project may need to comply with the requirements of the Ordinance.
How do I comply?
Property owners whose properties meet the criteria listed in the section above are required to install recycled water systems. Buildings and facilities within the designated recycled water use areas can use recycled water for all uses approved by the State of California. Some of the approved common uses include irrigation, and toilet/urinal flushing. These systems must meet San Francisco Plumbing and Health Codes, which include specifications for pipe type, pipe separation, backflow prevention assemblies, water meters, and signage.
See the Procedures for Developers for compliance information.
Need help?
Be sure to check the Recycled Water Ordinance Brochure for more detailed information. If you have a specific question about the recycled water ordinance, its applicability to your project, or any of the information on this web page, please contact us at recycledwater@sfwater.org.
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