GUIDELINES FOR RECYCLED WATER USE
The following guidelines are provided by the City of San Luis Obispo
for assistance in the correct use of recycled water. These are derived
from requirements enacted by the Regional Water Quality Control Board
and from State regulations (Department of Health Services (Title 22).
These guidelines are intended to provide the basic requirements for
recycled water use for landscape irrigation. Additional information is
available upon request. To operate your system in compliance with
current regulations, at a minimum you must:
PROVIDE NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC.
Conspicuous notification signs must be posted at adequate
intervals around the area to ensure people know recycled water is
being used to irrigate the landscape, and this water is not potable.
Signs should state "RECYCLED WATER" and include the statement:
"DO NOT DRINK IRRIGATION WATER" in English and Spanish. Additional
signage may be required in certain circumstances.
EQUIPMENT LABELS, SIGNS AND NOTICE.
PIPE. All buried piping supplied with recycled water and
continuously under pressure shall be marked with warning tape or with
stenciled lettering to identify it as carrying recycled water. On new
construction, the irrigation system piping beyond the control valves
shall also be labeled. Warning tape shall be 3" wide and shall have
the words "CAUTION: RECYCLED WATER LINE" printed in black on a
red, yellow or purple background color. Stenciled pipe shall be tinted
purple and shall be marked "RECYCLED WATER" in 5/8" minimum
letters, repeated every 12" (pre-stenciled purple PVC pipe is
commercially available).
All above-grade piping and/or plumping appurtenances shall be colored
purple and shall be labeled with the words "RECYCLED WATER".
IRRIGATION SYSTEM VALVES AND CONTROLLERS.All irrigation system
controllers shall have warning labels installed as supplied by the
Water Department. All irrigation system valves (gate, manual control,
electric control, pressure reducing and/or pressure relief) shall be
installed in boxes below-grade and shall have labels or tags
permanently affixed with the words "RECYCLED WATER". No hose
bibs are allowed to be connected to a recycled water system.
Irrigation hose connections are allowed via a "quick connect" coupling
if installed within a below-grade box or other enclosure and provided
with proper warning labels.
USE OF POTABLE WATER. Any property where recycled water is used
shall have an approved back-flow device installed on the potable water
service. If recycled water is to be supplemented with potable water,
there must be an air gap separation at all times between the
recycled water and potable water supplies.
SEPARATION BETWEEN WATER, SEWER AND RECYCLED WATER PIPES. For
recycled water mains located in a public right-of-way there must be a
ten (10) foot separation for each between water, sewer and recycled
water mains. For a description of alternatives see Water Department
Standard Drawing W-2550-2. On-site separation requires recycled piping
to be four (4) feet away from potable piping when parallel and one (1)
foot lower than potable water piping where they cross.
PUBLIC CONTACT AND APPROVED APPLICATION AREAS.
•
Public contact shall be minimized by proper design of irrigation
system to prevent run-off, excessive ponding, over-spray or wind
drift of irrigation water to areas where it is not permitted or not
under control of the owner.
• Recycled water shall not be applied to public access
sidewalks, roadways, passing vehicles, drinking water facilities or
enter areas where food is handled or eaten.
• Irrigation shall be scheduled to be applied at night,
between the hours of 9 pm and 6 am.
Any day-time use of recycled water (between the hours of 6 am and 9
pm) shall be under direct control and observation by an individual
familiar with these regulations.
