Denton, TX Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 28-451
- Marking requirement
- Purple irrigation components
- Sign size
- 8 in. x 8 in., English/Spanish
- Crop rule
- No contact with unpasteurized edible crops
Summary
Denton allows reclaimed water for landscape irrigation only with purple pipe, backflow protection, and posted bilingual warning signs.
Reclaimed water may be utilized in landscape irrigation systems if:
(a)There is no direct contact with edible crops, unless the crop is pasteurized before consumption;(b)The irrigation system does not spray water across property lines that do not belong to the irrigation system's owner;(c)The irrigation system is installed using purple components;(d)The domestic potable water line is connected using a backflow prevention assembly, in accordance with state law and the Code of the City of Denton, Texas, chapter 26, article XIII; and(e)A minimum of an eight-inch by eight-inch sign, in English and Spanish, is prominently posted on/in the area that is being irrigated, that reads, "RECLAIMED WATER - DO NOT DRINK" and "AGUA DE RECUPERACIÓN - NO BEBER". (Ord. No. 26-270, § 2(Exh. A), 3-24-26)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 37 Update 1 | Development Code: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 28-451 of the Code of the City of Denton, reclaimed (recycled) wastewater can be used to irrigate landscaping, but only under strict conditions: no direct contact with edible crops unless pasteurized first, no spray crossing onto a neighboring property, all irrigation components must be purple to mark them as non-potable, the potable water line must carry an approved backflow prevention assembly per chapter 26, article XIII, and the irrigated area must display an 8-by-8-inch sign in English and Spanish reading "RECLAIMED WATER - DO NOT DRINK." Reclaimed water is treated wastewater meeting 30 Tex. Admin. Code Ch. 210 standards and is legally defined as not a potable water supply.
Violations & Fines
Using reclaimed water without required purple piping, missing backflow protection, or failing to post the bilingual warning sign is a code violation enforced by the city's building safety division.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink Denton's reclaimed water?
Do I need special pipe for reclaimed water irrigation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denton
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Denton to another location·View the Texas water use rules overview
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Recycled Water Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Denton County handle recycled water rules.