Lakewood, CA Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Application required
- Written application to City, Sec. 5608.1
- Approval authority
- Director of Public Works approves or denies
- Customer pays
- All connection, meter, and main extension costs
- Billing deadline
- Payment due within 30 days of bill
- Pipe marking
- Outlets posted 'Reclaimed Water - Do Not Drink'
- Appeal path
- City Administrator, then City Council
Summary
Lakewood only extends reclaimed water service inside its designated reclaimed water service area, and only after the Director of Public Works approves a written application, under Municipal Code Section 5608. Customers pay all connection, meter, and extension costs, must restrict use to what the application approved, and must mark every reclaimed pipe and outlet 'Reclaimed Water - Do Not Drink.'
§ 5608. Reclaimed Water Service Area and Conditions of Service. The City shall control and schedule reclaimed water distribution to customers. The City shall provide reclaimed water service in accordance with this Chapter to any applicant who meets the requirements of this chapter. The provision of reclaimed water service and the use of reclaimed water by any customer shall be subject to all the terms and conditions of this Chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4901715; v5 updated 2026-04-28; through 04-28-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 5608 puts the City in control of scheduling and distributing reclaimed water and limits service to customers who meet the Chapter's requirements within the designated reclaimed water service area. 1, an applicant must file a scaled drawing and written description showing the proposed use area, the size, type, and location of all connections and onsite facilities, and the intended use of the reclaimed water, along with any application fees or deposits set by City Council resolution. 2 and may approve, conditionally approve, or deny it based on whether the location is compatible with the City's reclaimed water system and reasonably accessible to it; approval can require the customer to build specific onsite facilities or install an approved backflow preventer, and the customer cannot alter the system afterward without prior City approval.
3. 6, with a right to appeal a termination first to the City Administrator and then to the City Council. 11 requires every exposed reclaimed water pipeline to be painted, banded, or marked to distinguish it from potable water lines, with every outlet posted 'Reclaimed Water - Do Not Drink' and every shut-off valve clearly identified.
Violations & Fines
Connecting to the City's reclaimed water facilities without an approved application violates Section 5608.9 and, like other Code violations, is a misdemeanor under Section 1200, punishable by a fine up to the state misdemeanor maximum, up to six months in County jail, or both, though the City may instead cite it as an infraction. The City can also suspend or terminate reclaimed water service under Section 5608.6, with a right to appeal first to the City Administrator, then the City Council.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any Lakewood property connect to reclaimed water?
Who pays to connect a property to Lakewood's reclaimed water system?
How is reclaimed water piping identified in Lakewood?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
California rules heatmap·Compare Lakewood to another location·View the California water use rules overview
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