Alpharetta, GA Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)

Alpharetta Code of Ordinances Chapter 8, Article VIII (Sec. 8-190 through 8-192) targets water consumption at commercial car washes. Sec. 8-190 states the purpose is to reduce water use by requiring new conveyor car washes to run operational recycled water systems, and it applies the mandate only to conveyor washes permitted and constructed after June 22, 2020, regardless of water source; washes permitted or built before that date are grandfathered, and self-service or in-bay automatic car washes are excluded entirely. Sec. 8-191 defines the covered categories: a 'conveyor car wash' moves the vehicle on a belt through the tunnel; an 'in-bay automatic car wash' holds the vehicle stationary while a machine passes over it; a 'self-service car wash' has customers washing with spray wands and brushes themselves; and a 'recycled water system' is one that captures and reuses water from wash or rinse cycles.

Sec. 8-192 sets the operative numeric standard: covered new conveyor washes must install an operational recycled water system, and a minimum of 50 percent of the water used must be recycled water rather than fresh intake. The ordinance was adopted by Ord. No. 799, § 2(Exh. B), on June 22, 2020, alongside a companion article regulating private decentralized wastewater systems, which confirms Fulton County (not the city) owns and operates sanitary sewer collection citywide.