Pleasanton, CA Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)

Pleasanton Municipal Code Chapter 14.20 requires that "all new development within the recycled water use area shall use recycled water for appropriate landscape irrigation" (§ 14.20.040(A)), covering cemeteries, golf courses, parks, greenbelts, landscaped streets and medians, and landscape irrigation at industrial, commercial and common residential areas (§ 14.20.030). The requirement can be waived only if the city engineer finds the use would threaten public health, safety or the environment, or falls outside the uses allowed under the city's state recycled water distribution permit (§ 14.20.040(A)(1)-(2)).

Applicants may seek reconsideration in writing on economic-feasibility, minor-demand or inadequate-supply grounds, and the city engineer must issue a written determination within 30 days (§ 14.20.040(C)). Existing customers with dedicated irrigation meters in the service area are converted to recycled water through the city's recycled water program under Chapter 14.06, unless the director of operations and water utilities finds one of five exemption criteria met, including distance-based cost, minor irrigation demand, inadequate supply, a health/safety/environmental threat, or a use not permitted under the city's state distribution permit (§ 14.20.050(A)(1)-(5)).

Once service begins, Chapter 14.06 governs the customer relationship: a recycled water use permit is mandatory (§ 14.06.030), customer-owned facilities must meet city-approved standards, above-ground recycled water equipment must carry warning signage, only city-certified trained personnel may operate the facilities, and customers must host an annual on-site inspection meeting with a city representative (§ 14.06.040(A), (C), (E)-(G)). The city may terminate service immediately and without notice if cross-connections or other public-health hazards appear (§ 14.06.050).