Per City of San Luis Obispo Municipal Code, the following must be met to be exempt from a permit for rainwater collection:

"A water tank or a group of water tanks intended for storage of irrigation water only supported directly on grade if the capacity does not exceed 600 gallons in total on a parcel, the height does not exceed seven feet, the ratio of height to width does not exceed 2:1 (provided that water tanks with minor ratio deviances may be allowed under this section in the discretion of the Chief Building Official, subject to review of the deviation by the Chief Building Official and verification that such minor deviations do not adversely impact structural stability), and it is not visible from the public right-of-way that abuts the front yard".

Water waste can be reported by calling to Utilities Administration at 781-7215 or by reporting through the City's community app AskSLO.

Water supply and reservoir levels can be found on our Water Sources page.

Currently, the City does not offer any incentives for homeowners to remove their lawn. Over the years the City adopted and administered many rebate programs such as the low flow toilet/faucet/shower head rebate program (1990-2007), the high efficiency washing machine rebate program (2000-2011), the high efficiency sprinkler rebate program (2007-2010), the weather based irrigation control rebate program (2007-2010), and the low-flow toilet replacement and water efficient washing machine rebate programs (2015-2017).  Each of these programs were available city-wide and highly utilized by the community.  As participation dwindled, these programs were eliminated and we have turned our focus to water audit and leak detection programs.

While we don’t have a turf removal program in place at this time, it doesn't mean we won’t in the future. We acknowledge that we are often affected by drought and have taken many measures to conserve water. For instance, most of the City’s large parks as well as many large private development lawns are irrigated with recycled water.

The City of San Luis Obispo Water Reclamation Facility produces a disinfected tertiary recycled water by removing the waste from wastewater that residents discharge to the sewer. This recycled water is suitable for irrigation and many other uses. The Water Reclamation Facility uses the biological and mechanical processes described below to produce this high quality recycled water.

• Primary treatment uses bar screens and settling basins to remove materials that settle or float.
• Secondary treatment uses bacteria and other microorganisms to remove carbonaceous wastes and to convert ammonia to nitrates. The Water Reclamation Facility uses trickling filters and activated sludge basins to raise these microorganisms and then uses clarifiers following each of these processes to remove the microorganisms from the water. Following secondary treatment 95-98 percent of the organic material and solids have been removed.
• Tertiary treatment cools, filters, and disinfects the water before it is provided for reuse and dechlorinates the water that is discharged to the creek.

For more information please visit the Water Resource Recovery Facility Page

Yes, you do need a permit to perform lateral work on private property.  A plumbing permit for lateral repairs/replacement is issued over-the-counter to licensed plumbers at the City of San Luis Obispo’s Community Development Department's public counter at 919 Palm Street. To see current business hours for the public counter click here.

Some signs that a lateral may need repair or replacement include frequently clogged drains and an odor of sewage.

To accurately assess the condition of your sewer lateral, a Closed-Circuit Television Video (CCTV) inspection is needed.

Possible deficiencies that may be detected include displaced joints, open joints, root intrusion, substantial deterioration of the line, cracks, leaks, sags, inflow and /or infiltration of extraneous water, fats, oils and grease, or sediment deposits.

To avoid costly repairs as well as health, safety, and environmental hazards, laterals should be cleaned regularly.  How often you clean your lateral depends on the age of your house, the growth of tree and brush roots and the types of items that go down the drain. A good rule of thumb is to have a plumber check your lateral every two to five years. Check more often if you experience a sewage-like odor or frequently clogged drains.

Sewer laterals can be clogged and overflow for a variety of reasons:

o Tree and/or brush roots entering the sewer line

o Disposal of items into sink and/or toilet that clog the drain:

o Feminine hygiene items, including tampons and pads

o Baby wipes and diapers

o Paper towels

o Hair

o Dental floss

o Disposable towels

o Foods not meant for the garbage disposal such as chicken bones, corn cobs and egg shells

o Cooking grease

o Children’s toys

All food scraps and non-dissolvable items should be thrown in a trash or compost bin instead of down the drain.  Kitchen cooking grease should never be thrown down the drain.  Instead, cooking grease should be kept in a metal or glass jar and then thrown in the garbage.

A cleanout is an entry point into the sewer service lateral that is used to clear the line of any obstructions. Generally, a cleanout can be located either inside or outside of a house/building. Cleanouts are sometimes inadvertently buried under landscaping, walkways or driveways.  When this happens the cleanout will need to be re-exposed and made accessible. A licensed Plumber can determine where your sewer lateral’s cleanout is and the condition of your lateral as well as perform the necessary repair work. The best way to access the condition of a lateral is by Closed Circuit Television Video (CCTV) examination.

The private sewer lateral is the pipe that connects a business or home’s plumbing system to the City’s wastewater collection main pipeline which is located in the street or an easement. 

Condition is the structural integrity of the lateral upon inspection.  The lateral is given a rating based on the “condition” of the pipe and what defects are observed during the inspection.

Good - condition is free of defects and shows no sign of deterioration.

Fair condition is a lateral with a few minor defects and can be maintained easily without harm to the pipe.

Poor - condition is a lateral with some major defects impairing the function of the lateral and pipe material shows signs of failure.
Failure - is a lateral with severe problems such as heavy roots, missing pipe, soil visible through the pipe material (ex. – Cast Iron with rust holes through the sidewall – Orangeburg pipe present).  Lateral is beyond its useful life and can no longer be safely maintained.

Material type is the type of material your lateral piping is made of.  The common pipe types are High Density Polyethylene, Cast Iron, Vitrified Clay, Orangeburg and PolyVinyl Chloride.  ABS Pipe is included under PolyVinyl Chloride.  For more information of pipe type and characteristics click here.

This indicates the level of repair to a lateral performed that we have a record of.  Lower indicates that the lower lateral has been replaced.  This is generally from the back of the sidewalk to the city main. Upper indicates the lateral was replaced from the house to the back of the sidewalk.  Point Repair is just a small repair somewhere along the length of the lateral, typically they are 3’-6’ in length.  Complete indicates that the lateral has been completely replaced from the house to the city main, including the wye connection at the city main.

Any missing information indicates that the city has no information on the category that is blank.

Service type is the type of use according to the property type.  Residential is single family housing, apartments, Condos, etc.  Commercial is principally business oriented.  Mixed Use is a property that includes commercial use and residential living on the same property.

Call a licensed Plumber to determine the problem.  Look for “Plumbing Contractors” in the Yellow Pages or online in your local area.  Many have CCTV cameras to inspect the lateral to positively determine what the problem is.

The property owner is responsible for the entire pipe length, including the wye or saddle at the point of connection to the City's mainline.

Probably not, most policies do not cover lateral repair costs.  This is a home maintenanceexpense.  Some home warranties do cover this.

The City of San Luis Obispo, along with several communities throughout the state, has adopted local regulations that prohibit pollution from entering our surrounding waterways. While it’s the law, it’s also the right thing to do. San Luis Creek is home to several types of wildlife including threatened species, provides recreational opportunities, and is a focal point of our community.   

You can drain your pool into the sanitary sewer through a sewer lateral cleanout or drain. Chlorine and salts in pool water can kill native steelhead, even in small amounts.

Placing unwanted household items on the curb with a "FREE" sign is not permitted in San Luis Obispo and violates Municipal Code 8.04.020. Instead, consider the following responsible disposal methods:

• Donate or Sell: If the items are in good condition, donate them to local organizations or sell them online. This approach promotes reuse and benefits the community.

• Schedule a Special Pickup: For bulky items that cannot be donated or sold, schedule a special pickup with San Luis Garbage by calling (805) 543-0875. Discounted rates are available during the City's Clean-Up Weeks. 

• Self-Haul: Transport items directly to a disposal or recycling facility, such as the Cold Canyon Landfill. Note that there is no cost for disposing of mattresses.

Click here for more information on proper disposal methods and upcoming Clean-Up Weeks.

By following these guidelines, you help keep San Luis Obispo clean and comply with local regulations.

Pick up a free sharps disposal container at your local pharmacy and return it when full. For more information about sharps and expired medicines mail-back services please visit the SLO County Integrated Waste Management Authority's website. 

San Luis Garbage offers FREE motor oil and oil filter recycling for residential customers.  Call (805) 543-0875 to schedule your container drop-off and pick-up.

No, when in doubt, throw it out. Avoid placing non-recyclable items in the blue bin unless you’re certain they are recyclable. "Wishful recycling," though well-intentioned, can harm the recycling system.

For guidance, visit the SLO County IWMA online Recycling Guide to search for an item and learn the correct way to dispose of it.

Thank you for Recycling Right!

No, plastic and compostable bags are not allowed in the recycling system as they can damage sorting machinery and cause contamination. Mixed recyclables must be placed loose in the blue cart/bin to avoid potential contamination fines. 

*Sustainable Tip: Take plastic bags to your nearest grocery store for recycling; they are not accepted in curbside mixed recycling.

Recyclables only need a light rinse to remove food, not major washing. Reuse water, like dishwater, before draining to conserve. Recycling saves water, energy, and reduces pollution.

*Sustainable Tip: Opt for durable, reusable goods to minimize waste and conserve resources!

Small appliances are considered e-waste and contain toxic chemicals harmful to health and the environment. Do not place them in your trash or recycling. For FREE residential hazardous waste drop-off locations, visit the SLO County Integrated Waste Management Authority's website.

Recycle your used mattress and box spring for FREE with the Bye Bye Mattress Program at the Cold Canyon Landfill, 226 Carpenter Canyon Rd, San Luis Obispo. Monday - Saturday; 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Limit: 3 mattress/box spring units per drop-off.

You may also qualify for a FREE curbside collection.  Call San Luis Garbage office at 805-543-0875 to see if you qualify.

*Never dump mattresses in the public right-of-way or on the side of the road. It's illegal and costly for everyone. 

All residents, including multi-family complexes, and commercial businesses must subscribe to mixed recycling and organic waste services.

Contact San Luis Garbage at 805-543-0875 to set up service.

To report non-compliance, complete the complaint form with SLO County Integrated Waste Management Authority.

If you just moved into your house or apartment you have to sign up for service.

If you already have water service, you should be aware that the water distribution system occasionally has main line breaks. When this happens, the crews rarely have the opportunity to notify the public. In an emergency shutdown such as this, distribution crews notify the police of the areas that will be affected. For a planned water main shutdown, crews give 48 hour notices to customers in the area the shutdown will affect.

A malfunctioning or leaking toilet is the most common problem, and it may be responsible for the sudden increase in your water bill. If you hear the sound of water running when your toilet is not in use, it can be wasting 100-500 gallons of water per day.

To learn how to detect or repair toilet leaks or find other useful water conservation information, visit the Conservation webpage or call 781-7215.

1. Debris caught in the aerator screen in your faucet (to fix this, remove the screen & clean, then replace the screen). 
2. A partially closed valve on the property being served
3. Aged galvanized steel plumbing which has become restricted due to interior corrosion and mineral deposit build-up.
4. A Pressure regulator that has worn out or failed.

Material type is the type of material your lateral piping is made of.  The common pipe types are High Density Polyethylene, Cast Iron, Vitrified Clay, Orangeburg and PolyVinyl Chloride.  ABS Pipe is included under PolyVinyl Chloride.  For more information of pipe type and characteristics click here.

Call the City Corporation Yard dispatchers at 781-7215 during normal operating hours (Monday-Friday 7am to 4:30pm). After-hours calls should be directed to Police Communications at 781-7312.

The City of San Luis Obispo Water Reclamation Facility produces a disinfected tertiary recycled water by removing the waste from wastewater that residents discharge to the sewer. This recycled water is suitable for irrigation and many other uses. The Water Reclamation Facility uses the biological and mechanical processes described below to produce this high quality recycled water.

• Primary treatment uses bar screens and settling basins to remove materials that settle or float.
• Secondary treatment uses bacteria and other microorganisms to remove carbonaceous wastes and to convert ammonia to nitrates. The Water Reclamation Facility uses trickling filters and activated sludge basins to raise these microorganisms and then uses clarifiers following each of these processes to remove the microorganisms from the water. Following secondary treatment 95-98 percent of the organic material and solids have been removed.
• Tertiary treatment cools, filters, and disinfects the water before it is provided for reuse and dechlorinates the water that is discharged to the creek.

For more information please visit the Water Resource Recovery Facility Page

Per City of San Luis Obispo Municipal Code, the following must be met to be exempt from a permit for rainwater collection:

"A water tank or a group of water tanks intended for storage of irrigation water only supported directly on grade if the capacity does not exceed 600 gallons in total on a parcel, the height does not exceed seven feet, the ratio of height to width does not exceed 2:1 (provided that water tanks with minor ratio deviances may be allowed under this section in the discretion of the Chief Building Official, subject to review of the deviation by the Chief Building Official and verification that such minor deviations do not adversely impact structural stability), and it is not visible from the public right-of-way that abuts the front yard".

Water waste can be reported by calling to Utilities Administration at 781-7215 or by reporting through the City's community app AskSLO.

Water supply and reservoir levels can be found on our Water Sources page.

Currently, the City does not offer any incentives for homeowners to remove their lawn. Over the years the City adopted and administered many rebate programs such as the low flow toilet/faucet/shower head rebate program (1990-2007), the high efficiency washing machine rebate program (2000-2011), the high efficiency sprinkler rebate program (2007-2010), the weather based irrigation control rebate program (2007-2010), and the low-flow toilet replacement and water efficient washing machine rebate programs (2015-2017).  Each of these programs were available city-wide and highly utilized by the community.  As participation dwindled, these programs were eliminated and we have turned our focus to water audit and leak detection programs.

While we don’t have a turf removal program in place at this time, it doesn't mean we won’t in the future. We acknowledge that we are often affected by drought and have taken many measures to conserve water. For instance, most of the City’s large parks as well as many large private development lawns are irrigated with recycled water.

A malfunctioning or leaking toilet is the most common problem, and it may be responsible for the sudden increase in your water bill. If you hear the sound of water running when your toilet is not in use, it can be wasting 100-500 gallons of water per day.

To learn how to detect or repair toilet leaks or find other useful water conservation information, visit the Conservation webpage or call 781-7215.

If you just moved into your house or apartment you have to sign up for service.

If you already have water service, you should be aware that the water distribution system occasionally has main line breaks. When this happens, the crews rarely have the opportunity to notify the public. In an emergency shutdown such as this, distribution crews notify the police of the areas that will be affected. For a planned water main shutdown, crews give 48 hour notices to customers in the area the shutdown will affect.

1. Debris caught in the aerator screen in your faucet (to fix this, remove the screen & clean, then replace the screen). 
2. A partially closed valve on the property being served
3. Aged galvanized steel plumbing which has become restricted due to interior corrosion and mineral deposit build-up.
4. A Pressure regulator that has worn out or failed.

The Salinas Dam (Santa Margarita Lake) can store 23,843 acre-feet and Whale Rock Dam can store 40,600 acre-feet.

The City’s share of the Whale Rock Dam total storage is 55.05%, or 22,383 acre feet, which provides a combined total of 46,183 acre-feet.

The City is fortunate to have a diversified water portfolio.  We receive the majority of our water from Santa Margarita Lake, Whale Rock Reservoir and Nacimiento Lake.  A small percentage is available from groundwater wells.  The City does not receive State water.

The City of San Luis Obispo encourages people to learn more about their drinking water. Learn more at:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/drinking-water/data-research/facts-stats/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/public/index.html

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency http://water.epa.gov/drink/

You can also contact the US EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

The City water system is regulated by the State Water Resources Control Board – Division of Drinking Water.  All of the water from surface water sources is treated at the City’s Water Treatment Plant through a very thorough treatment process.

We perform thousands of analyses each year on the water beginning at the source, through treatment, and all the way to the customer's tap.  The results are summarized in our Annual Water Quality Report.

The City is fortunate to have a diversified water portfolio.  We receive the majority of our water from Santa Margarita Lake, Whale Rock Reservoir and Nacimiento Lake.  A small percentage is available from groundwater wells.  The City does not receive State water.