Laredo, TX Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)

Article IV of Chapter 25 regulates irrigation systems citywide, and Sec. 25-93 sets the conditions under which reclaimed (recycled) water may be used for landscape irrigation rather than banning it outright. The water cannot come into direct contact with edible crops unless those crops are pasteurized before consumption, and the irrigation system cannot spray reclaimed water across a property line onto land the system's owner does not control. All reclaimed-water irrigation piping must use purple-colored components, the industry-standard color code that lets inspectors, contractors, and utility workers immediately identify non-potable lines.

Where a reclaimed-water system connects to the domestic potable water line, the connection must include an air gap or a reduced-pressure-principle backflow prevention device that complies with 30 Texas Administrative Code Sec. 47(i). ' Backflow prevention on the reclaimed water supply line itself must additionally meet the regulations of the city's water provider. These irrigation rules sit alongside Sec. 25-90 through 25-92, which require licensed irrigators to design, install, and maintain systems to minimum technical standards, and violations of the irrigation article are enforced by the city's irrigation inspectors and plumbing inspector under Sec. 25-97.