CaliforniaWater quality: recycled water.
What it does
(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.
More detail
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 that does not enter the boundaries of a residence is not to be considered a part of the same premises as an individual residence and is not to be considered a dual-plumbed system. The bill would require recycled water used for this purpose to comply with specified water quality and cost conditions.
(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.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Oct 13Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 736, Statutes of 2025.Latest
- Oct 13Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 9Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.To Governor
- Sep 4Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 2512.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB31 McNerney et al. Concurrence. Result: pass.Upper
- Sep 3In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Vote recorded SB 31 McNerney Senate Third Reading By Alvarez. Result: pass.Lower
- Sep 3Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 2867.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Sep 2Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 29From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 29).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 29Coauthors revised.
- Aug 20August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Jul 2From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jul 1
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 17From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.S & T.M. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 9From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on W. P., & W.Major
- Jun 5Referred to Coms. on W. P., & W. and E.S & T.M.Minor
- May 29In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Vote recorded Special Consent SB31 McNerney et al. Result: pass.Upper
- May 29Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1322.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- May 27Ordered to special consent calendar.
- May 23Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded [05-23-2025] set for [First] hearing: Reconsideration of favorable vote granted. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- May 23From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1188.) (May 23).Minor
- May 23May 23 set for first hearing. Reconsideration of favorable vote granted.
- May 16Set for hearing May 23.
- May 12From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- May 12May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- May 2Set for hearing May 12.
- May 1From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0. Page 962.) (April 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 30
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 21From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.Major
- Apr 2Set for hearing April 30.
- Mar 26Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.Major
- Mar 25From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on E.Q. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 531.) (March 25).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Environmental Quality]. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 12Set for hearing March 25.
- Feb 19Re-referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and E.Q.Minor
- Feb 10From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.Major
- Jan 29Referred to Com. on RLS.Minor
- 2024
- Dec 3From printer. May be acted upon on or after January 2.
- Dec 2Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced