Charlotte County, FL Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing agency
- Charlotte County Utilities (CCU)
- Backflow preventer
- Required before any reclaimed connection
- Pipe marking
- Purple PVC, Pantone 522C, labeled RECLAIMED WATER
- Residential hose bibbs
- Above-ground bibbs prohibited
- Minimum service line size
- One inch diameter
- Citation
- Charlotte County Code § 3-8-195 et seq.
Summary
Charlotte County Utilities supplies reclaimed water for irrigation once a customer signs a service agreement, installs a CCU-approved backflow preventer, and passes inspection. Above-ground hose bibbs are banned on residential reclaimed lines, all reclaimed piping must be purple and marked "RECLAIMED WATER," and the county can shut off service for cross-connections, nonpayment, or tampering under Charlotte County Code § 3-8-195 et seq.
(1)All connections shall meet the specifications and be in accordance with all local, state and federal regulations:a.No reclaimed water is permitted inside any single-family or duplex dwelling unit, or any dwelling unit where the residents have access to the plumbing system for repairs or modifications.b.As approved by CCU, reclaimed water may be used for air-conditioning cooling systems in commercial or industrial facilities or buildings, in accordance with FDEP regulations as amended.c.No above ground reclaimed water hose bibbs (spigots or hand-operated connections) shall be permitted for residential customers.d.For nonresidential reclaimed water users, below-ground reclaimed water hose bibbs are permitted when they are clearly labeled as non-potable and can only be operated by use of a special tool to be approved by the director and in accordance with FDEP regulations as amended.
Full Breakdown
Charlotte County Utilities (CCU) operates a purple-pipe reclaimed water system serving designated neighborhoods for irrigation and other approved non-potable uses. To connect, a customer must submit a written application with land application calculation plans signed and sealed by a Florida-licensed engineer, sign a service agreement, and pass a CCU inspection before use begins (Charlotte County Code § 3-8-195, § 3-8-200). No connection is permitted until a CCU-approved backflow prevention assembly is installed on the customer's potable water system, protecting drinking water from any cross-connection with reclaimed lines (§ 3-8-200(e), § 3-8-202(a)).
Construction standards under § 3-8-203 require reclaimed distribution mains dedicated to the county to be at least C-900, DR18, Class 150 PVC, colored purple similar to Pantone 522C, and marked with metallic tape reading "RECLAIMED WATER"; mains must run at least three inches in diameter and service lines at least one inch. Above-ground hose bibbs are prohibited for residential customers; nonresidential users may install below-ground bibbs only if labeled non-potable and operable solely with a special tool approved by the CCU director. Advisory signs reading "Do Not Drink" in English and Spanish are required wherever reclaimed water is used in public areas, with "Do Not Swim" added at storage ponds not located at the treatment plant.
CCU does not guarantee an uninterrupted reclaimed supply and may restrict use schedules during shortages or maintenance (§ 3-8-198); customers are responsible for their own backup source, such as an on-site pond, well, or canal, if service is unreliable (§ 3-8-203(9)). Every connected property pays a monthly usage charge set by county resolution.
Violations & Fines
CCU may discontinue reclaimed service immediately for a discovered cross-connection, unauthorized tampering with signage or piping, nonpayment of bills, or any condition risking public health (Charlotte County Code § 3-8-197). Restoring service requires correcting the violation, paying all past-due charges plus reconnection and repair costs, and passing reinspection under § 3-8-200. Where a cross-connection endangers the potable system, CCU or the Charlotte County Health Department may enter the property to test and clear the lines under § 3-8-202(b)-(c).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install a hose bibb on my reclaimed water line in Charlotte County?
Do I need a backflow preventer to get reclaimed water service?
Can Charlotte County shut off my reclaimed water?
Is reclaimed water guaranteed to always be available?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charlotte County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Charlotte County to another location·View the Florida water use rules overview
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