San Francisco's Non-Potable Water Ordinance (Health Code Article 12C) requires new buildings of 100,000 square feet or larger to install onsite water reuse systems for toilet flushing, irrigation, and cooling.
Adopted 2012 and expanded in 2015, Health Code Article 12C requires new development of 100,000 square feet or more to capture and reuse non-potable sources—rainwater, graywater, blackwater, foundation drainage, or stormwater—for non-drinking uses such as toilet flushing and irrigation. SFPUC and the Department of Public Health jointly administer the program, issuing operating permits and water-quality testing schedules. The city also extends recycled water mains in southwest neighborhoods (the Westside Recycled Water Project) for parks and dual-plumbed buildings. Over 70 onsite systems are now in operation.
Building permits will not issue without an approved water budget. Operating without a valid permit is a public-nuisance violation with fines up to $1,000 per day.
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See how San Francisco's recycled water rules rules stack up against other locations.
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