Gulfport, FL Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)

Gulfport regulates recycled water, called reclaimed water in the code, through the cross-connection control program in Chapter 11, Division 3. Section 11-72 defines reclaimed water as water that has received at least secondary treatment plus filtration and is reused after flowing out of a water reclamation facility. Any parcel that receives reclaimed water for irrigation is treated as an elevated hazard to the potable system under Section 11-76(d)(7): a direct physical connection between the reclaimed line and the customer's water system is prohibited outright. If Public Works finds one, the connection must be disconnected and then protected against future reconnection with a reduced pressure principle backflow preventer at the service connection.

The section sets the equipment: a dual check valve for three-quarter-inch or one-inch reclaimed services, or a double check valve assembly for larger services, required at every premises that may be served by reclaimed water. The public works director, the plumbing official and the county health department share enforcement under Sections 11-73 through 11-75. A customer who does not correct a violation within 15 days of written notice can lose water service until the backflow preventer is installed, and the department can terminate service immediately, without that notice, if it finds a serious threat to public health, delivering notice of the termination within 24 hours under Section 11-75(c).

Backflow assemblies installed under this program become city property, and the customer pays for annual testing, repair and replacement, recovered through the monthly water bill under Section 11-74(e). Separately, Section 11-116 states it is strongly encouraged, not required, that fertilizer use be reduced on properties irrigated with reclaimed water in proportion to the nutrient level the reclaimed water already carries.