Laguna Niguel, CA Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)

Laguna Niguel's water efficient landscaping regulations, adopted by Ord. No. 2009-156 in Article 3, Division 5 of Title 6, treat recycled water as a core piece of the city's water conservation strategy rather than an incidental option. Section 6-5-40(b)(1) records the city council's finding that Laguna Niguel has an established reclaimed water infrastructure system for landscape use that reduces the need for importation of potable water supplies. Section 6-5-45 defines 'recycled water' or 'reclaimed water' as treated or recycled waste water of a quality suitable for non-potable uses such as landscape irrigation and water features, expressly stating the water is not intended for human consumption.

That same definitions section designates a 'special landscape area' as including any area irrigated with recycled water or any water feature that uses recycled water, alongside edible-plant gardens and active-play turf. Under Section 6-5-43(a), a special landscape area is allowed an ET adjustment factor of up to 1.0, rather than the 0.7 factor that applies to ordinary new landscaping, which functions as a built-in incentive to connect to recycled water rather than potable supply. The code does not separately regulate dual plumbing, cross-connection testing or retail delivery of recycled water; those technical and safety standards sit with the local water purveyor, which the code's delegation clause in Section 6-5-44 lets the city rely on directly.