Ontario, CA Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- OMC Title 6, Chapter 8C
- Approval required
- Recycled water use agreement with City
- Pipe marking
- Purple, Pantone 512 or 522
- Backflow program
- Cross-Connection Control, Chapter 8E
- Tampering penalty
- Criminal charge, DA referral possible
- Drought restrictions
- Do not apply to recycled water
Summary
Ontario requires a signed use agreement and City approval before any property can receive recycled water, restricting it to State Water Board approved uses like irrigation and toilet flushing. Purple-coded pipes, backflow protection, and cross-connection testing are mandatory under Municipal Code Chapter 8C.
(a) Uses of recycled water include only those uses approved by the State Board and consistent with the Uniform Statewide Recycling Criteria under Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations. Each proposed use will be considered for approval by the City on a case-by-case basis, and the City may determine in its discretion whether it is feasible to furnish recycled water for the proposed use.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-32: Current through Ordinance 3338, passed 7-21-2026).
Full Breakdown
Recycled water service in Ontario is governed by Municipal Code Chapter 8C, adopted under Ordinance 2689 and last amended by Ordinance 3297 (eff. March 18, 2025). 712 limits authorized uses to those approved by the California State Water Resources Control Board and consistent with the Uniform Statewide Recycling Criteria in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, including agricultural irrigation and commercial flushing of toilets and urinals. The City evaluates every proposed use case by case for cost, water quality compliance, and public health impact before approval.
715 that specifies estimated annual use in acre-feet and maximum gallons per minute at the point of connection. 722 conditions service on compliance with the City's Cross-Connection Control Program in Chapter 8E, requiring a Cross-Connection Control Coordinator to review plumbing plans and approve backflow protection before water flows. ' An onsite Recycled Water Supervisor must be designated at each use area to prevent cross-connections. 713(d) and is supplied as available, though service can be terminated immediately if quality fails to meet regulatory standards.
Violations & Fines
Diversion or tampering with a recycled water connection is prohibited under Section 6-8.734 and is treated as a crime under the California Penal Code, with violations also reaching the Water Code and Civil Code; the City may refer offenders to the San Bernardino County District Attorney for criminal prosecution. Under Section 6-8.735, the City can discontinue water service to any customer who violates Chapter 8C or creates a dangerous or unsanitary condition, though notice is required first unless immediate disconnection is needed to prevent fraud or loss. General code violations fall under Municipal Code Chapter 1-5.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any Ontario property just hook up to recycled water?
Why are recycled water pipes and meters purple in Ontario?
Does recycled water get shut off during a drought in Ontario?
What happens if someone tampers with a recycled water line?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ontario
California rules heatmap·Compare Ontario to another location·View the California water use rules overview
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Recycled Water Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle recycled water rules.