San Ramon, CA Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)

C governs irrigation systems as part of the City's landscape standards, layered on top of Municipal Code Section C4-122 and the state Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance found at 23 CCR Sections 490-495. 1: recycled water, if available, must be used for landscape irrigation systems as appropriate to the plant materials and consistent with storm water regulations. Where recycled water is not immediately available, the project cannot simply default to potable water indefinitely; it must install recycled water infrastructure, meaning the distinctive purple pipe used for reclaimed water systems, if recycled water is reasonably expected to become available at the site within 15 years.

2 separately allows an irrigation system to incorporate graywater, subject to Chapter 15 of the California Plumbing Code. D, which requires recycled water for dust control and other construction activities such as equipment washing and street cleaning unless it is unavailable, infeasible, or raises an environmental concern the Zoning Administrator identifies, such as proximity to a creek or protected habitat.