Beaumont, CA Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)

Beaumont Municipal Code § 17.06.030, the Water Efficient Landscape Requirements, treats recycled water in four places. The intent clause sets a maximum water demand of 0.50 ETo for landscapes served by potable water and 0.70 ETo for landscapes served entirely by recycled water. The planting plan rules say that where available, recycled water shall be used as the source for irrigation and decorative water features. The cover sheet of the landscape documentation must state the water supply (potable, well, recycled), and the code notes that use of recycled water is encouraged. Water systems for common open space areas shall use non-potable water if approved facilities are made available by the local water purveyor, and the irrigation design plan must provide for conversion to a non-potable system.

The budget formula shows what the higher allowance means. For potable water, MAWA in gallons equals (ETo)(0.62)[0.5 × LA+0.5 × SLA]. For projects served entirely by recycled water it is (ETo)(0.62)[0.7 × LA+0.3 × SLA], where LA is total landscape area including special landscape area (SLA) in square feet. Irrigation efficiency is assumed to be 0.71. Non-potable systems must meet the standards of the California Regional Water Quality Control Board and the Riverside County Health Department.

The chapter applies to all new residential landscapes needing a discretionary permit, to rehabilitated residential landscapes of 2,500 square feet or more needing one, and to all new and rehabilitated commercial or industrial landscapes needing one. Applicants planning recycled water should consult the local water purveyor early, and if the purveyor has stricter requirements the applicant designs to those. Plans go to the Community Development Director, who can enter the site at any time before, during, and after installation to enforce the chapter.