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

Under Glendale Municipal Code Chapter 13.28, the Glendale Water and Power Department (GWP) controls and schedules all recycled water distribution in the city. Section 13.28.010 sets the policy: recycled water must be substituted for potable water wherever feasible for landscape or agricultural irrigation, filling decorative fountains, office building toilet flushing, construction water, industrial process water, or recreational and ornamental impoundments, subject to approval by every applicable regulatory agency. To connect, an applicant files a written application under Section 13.28.040 with a scaled drawing of the proposed recycled water use area, the proposed uses, and payment of application fees and deposits set under Chapter 13.08.

GWP reviews the application under Section 13.28.050 and may approve, conditionally approve, or deny service; conditions can include requiring the customer to install specific on-site facilities or an approved backflow preventer recognized by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Before connection, the customer pays all costs of the recycled water service connection, meter, and any needed extension of off-site facilities under Section 13.28.060. Every property on recycled water must use a meter dedicated solely to recycled water (Section 13.28.080(G)), and a customer cannot alter the recycled water system or on-site facilities without prior department approval (Section 13.28.080(D)).

When a served property is subdivided, the existing connection and meter serve only the parcel where the meter sits, and additional lots need their own new recycled water mains, lines and meters (Section 13.28.080(F)). Pricing for recycled water is set by council resolution (Section 13.28.070(C)).