Phoenix, AZ Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- New turf facilities of 10+ acres
- Required source
- Exclusively non-potable or reclaimed water
- Exception
- Cost-prohibitive, per Director finding
- Existing facilities
- Must convert once service offered (§37-116)
- Penalty
- Up to 2,000% of water charges (§37-120)
Summary
New turf-related facilities of 10 or more acres in Phoenix must irrigate with non-potable or reclaimed water instead of potable City supply, unless service is proven cost-prohibitive by the Water Services Director.
A person may not apply water delivered by the City to a new turf-related facility unless one of the following apply: 1. The water to be applied is exclusively non-potable water or untreated water delivered by the City. 2. The new turf-related facility is located in an area for which the cost of providing a non-potable or untreated water supply would be prohibitively high to the City or the person, as determined by the Director.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-7524, passed June 17, 2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 37-112 bars applying City-delivered water to a new turf-related facility (one watering 10+ acres) unless the water is exclusively non-potable or untreated water, or the Director finds a non-potable supply prohibitively costly to build. Existing facilities built before Sept. 30, 1994 are exempt but must convert once the City makes non-potable service available at the point of delivery (§ 37-116). "Reclaimed water" is defined in § 37-1 as wastewater treated by a wastewater treatment plant for reuse.
Violations & Fines
Civil sanctions escalate from 200% of water charges for a first violation to 2,000% for a fourth-or-later violation or one lasting over three years (§ 37-120).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this require homeowners to use recycled water on their lawn?
What counts as reclaimed water under Phoenix's code?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Phoenix
Compare Phoenix to another location·View the Arizona water use rules overview
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