City of Sacramento
Law and Legislation Committee Report
915 I Street, 1st Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2022-01448 9/20/2022 Discussion Item 4.
Dual Plumbing Ordinance - Proposed Framework
File ID: 2022-01448
Location: Citywide
Recommendation: Review and comment on the proposed framework and workplan for a Dual Plumbing Ordinance.
Contact: Matt Hertel, Principal Planner, (916) 808-7158, [email protected]; Laura Tuller, Associate Planner, (916) 808-3546, [email protected], Community Development Department; Yvette Rincon, Chief of Staff to the Director of Utilities, (916) 808-1806, [email protected], Department of Utilities
Presenter: Yvette Rincon, Chief of Staff to the Director of Utilities, (916) 808-1806, [email protected], Department of Utilities
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Committee Follow Up Information Table
3-Onsite Water Reuse - Workplan and Timeline
4-Dual Plumbing Ordinance Proposed Framework
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: On July 19, 2022, staff presented findings of phase one of the Onsite Water Reuse and Dual Plumbing feasibility study, as well as preliminary recommendations on scope and timeline of a potential Dual Plumbing Ordinance. Committee members requested that staff return to the Law and Legislation Committee with information regarding specific job impacts, Sacramento building stock, opportunities for holistic building retrofits, and best practices from other cities. This staff report includes the information requested by committee members (Background and Attachment 2) as well as a work plan and phasing for next steps, including recommended staff and consultant resources (Attachment 3). Attachment 4 is a proposed framework and public hearing schedule for adoption of a Dual Plumbing Ordinance by the end of 2022.
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File ID: 2022-01448 9/20/2022 Discussion Item 4.
Policy Considerations: The 2035 General Plan includes the following policy related to water conservation:
ER 6.1.7 Greenhouse Gas Reduction in New Development. The City shall reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new development by discouraging auto dependent sprawl and dependence on the private automobile; promoting water conservation and recycling; promoting development that is compact, mixed use, pedestrian friendly, and transit oriented; promoting energy-efficient building design and site planning; improving the jobs/housing ratio in each community; and other methods of reducing emissions.
On November 12, 2019, Council adopted the Vision and Guiding Principles for the 2040 General Plan and Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Update. This document includes the commitment to take bold action to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 and become a leading voice in the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and adapt to climate change. Principles of sustainable and responsible growth include:
6. Make Sacramento a model of sustainable living by promoting environmentally conscious and health promoting design of buildings, parks, and infrastructure, as well as by promoting the adaptive reuse of existing buildings and the careful conservation of energy, water, open spaces, trees, and other natural resources.
Economic Impacts: The economic impacts of a dual plumbing ordinance would be increased construction costs for commercial nonresidential development and increased demand for plumbing and onsite water treatment equipment. Some of this cost could be offset by potential cost savings from all electric construction, as demonstrated by California Energy Codes and Standards Cost Effectiveness Studies.
Environmental Considerations: City Council rules of procedure generally require that all proposals for ordinances must be reviewed by the Law and Legislation Committee prior to Council review and adoption. The review by the Law and Legislation Committee is not itself a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is a request for input and recommendation as an administrative activity that will not result in any direct or indirect physical change in the environment. (CEQA guidelines section 15378(b)(5).) Environmental review pursuant to CEQA will be conducted prior to any adoption of the proposed ordinance.
Sustainability: It is anticipated that the proposed dual plumbing ordinance requiring onsite reuse of non-potable water will have a net positive impact, because it will conserve valuable potable water supply by utilizing greywater for landscape irrigation needs for large buildings.
Commission/Committee Action: On July 19, 2022, staff presented to the Law and Legislation Committee, findings of phase one of the Onsite Water Reuse and Dual Plumbing feasibility study, as well as preliminary recommendations on scope and timeline of a potential Dual Plumbing Ordinance.
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File ID: 2022-01448 9/20/2022 Discussion Item 4.
Committee members requested that staff to return to Law and Legislation with information regarding specific job impacts, Sacramento building stock, opportunities for holistic building retrofits, and best practices from other cities. This staff report includes the information requested by committee members.
Rationale for Recommendation: Staff are recommending a phased approach for a Dual Plumbing Ordinance for new buildings, including an initial Ordinance requiring dual plumbing for the purposes of reuse of greywater for landscape irrigation for certain commercial non-residential buildings that could be adopted by the end of 2022 (attachment 4) for the reasons outlined below.
Sustainable and Resilient Water Management: Onsite water reuse systems allow building owners to match alternate water sources with the appropriate non-potable end use, such as landscape irrigation and toilet and urinal flushing, conserving valuable potable water supplies and creating a more resilient and sustainable water management system.
Just Job Transition: On January 1st, 2023, the New Building Electrification Ordinance will take effect requiring all electric new construction for buildings under the City’s purview three stories or less and all electric new construction for all buildings beginning on January 1, 2026. While building decarbonization will create many new jobs in multiple sectors, for plumbers and gas pipefitters, there are projected job losses. Thus, it is important for the City and other regional policymakers to take action to create opportunities to ensure there is a just transition away from fossil fuels across the Sacramento region. In addition to environmental benefit of utilizing grey water instead of potable water, dual plumbing for onsite water reuse is one potential avenue to mitigate job losses that may be caused by electrification while increasing resilience and improving adaptation to our changing climate.
Alignment with current and future regulations: Dual plumbing and onsite reuse of greywater and rainwater is currently allowed under California Plumbing Code (CPC). State regulations governing the onsite treatment of non-potable water are expected to go into effect December 1, 2022. Thus, staff recommends a phased approach, outlined in attachment 4 of the staff report. The first phase would be a dual plumbing ordinance that could be adopted by the end of 2022, which would mitigate some initial negative job impacts of building electrification while allowing time to implement state regulations for onsite blackwater reuse, and reuse of greywater for indoor end uses (second phase).
Financial Considerations: The initial phase of the preliminary recommendations for a potential Dual Plumbing Ordinance is not anticipated to have a significant cost impact for the City. The Department of Utilities and Community Development Department could implement the initial phase with existing resources. The second phase of the preliminary recommendations for a potential Dual Plumbing Ordinance is anticipated to require additional staff resources to implement onsite treatment of non- potable water. The financial resources that may be required to implement the second phase will not be fully known until State regulations governing onsite treatment of non-potable water go into effect City of Sacramento Page 3 of 6
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on December 1, 2022.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable
Background:
Job and Development Impacts Analysis
: Per Committee direction, staff conducted additional
outreach with stakeholders, including U.A. Local 447 and Sacramento Regional Builders’ Exchange to gather additional information about projected job and development impacts of Building Electrification and a potential Dual Plumbing Ordinance. To understand green job opportunities and accelerate the transition of labor segments potentially impacted by the New Building Electrification Ordinance, City staff are considering several sources. First, the U.A. Local Union 447 representing local plumbers and pipefitters has developed an estimate of job impact based on a survey of 11 contractors, anticipating that the New Building Electrification Ordinance will reduce plumbing and pipefitting work hours by an estimated 18 - 27%. Importantly, these estimates reflect the labor- intensive upfront work for natural gas piping systems, but also include work outside of the purview of the City’s New Building Electrification Ordinance, including remodels and HVAC replacement to existing buildings, and work on new buildings under the State’s purview and not subject to the New Building Electrification Ordinance, including State and Federal government buildings, schools, and hospitals.
Staff have also reviewed available reports on job impacts of decarbonization policies for the State of California from ’
UCLAs Luskin Center of Innovation <https://innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/california-building- decarbonization/> and the City of San Diego
<https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/sd_jobs_impact_analysis_summary_memo_dec2021_fi nal-2.pdf>, the results of which suggest smaller impacts to plumbers and gas pipefitters as a result of building decarbonization policies. The rate of growth of Sacramento and the size of the existing plumbing workforce are important considerations in determining the magnitude of impact of new building electrification. Additional study would be required to gain full understanding of job impacts of building electrification in Sacramento. Staff are committed to identifying long-term transitional strategies with City’s forthcoming Existing Building Electrification Strategy, and green jobs strategies resulting from the City’s Clean & Green Working Group.
Sacramento Building Stock:
Law and Legislation Committee members asked staff to assess the potential for reducing the recommended building footprint threshold of 100,000 sq. ft. or greater to be included in a Dual Plumbing Ordinance. Staff analyzed Sacramento commercial nonresidential building data from 2010-present. The average number of buildings per year is based on years 2015- 2021, due to the unusually slow rate of development following the 2008 recession for years 2010- 2014. The average per project construction valuation includes years 2010-2021.
Staff analyzed both number of buildings constructed per year, as well as construction valuation for buildings of different size thresholds. Buildings 100,000 gross square feet (gsf) or larger account for City of Sacramento Page 4 of 6
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approximately 7% of the total number of buildings constructed since 2010. However, they account for approximately 58% of the total construction valuation, which suggests that the job impact of very large buildings is significant. Commercial nonresidential buildings 50,000 gsf or larger account for approximately 16.5% of the total number of buildings and 75% of the total construction valuation. The City of Sacramento constructs an average of 32 commercial nonresidential buildings per year.
Average per project construction valuation of buildings of three size thresholds are shown below:
Average per project construction valuation
for commercial nonresidential buildings
100,000 gsf or greater
$30,749,933
Average per project construction valuation
for commercial nonresidential buildings
50,000-99,999 gsf
$10,560,972
Average per project construction valuation
for commercial nonresidential buildings
20,000-49,999
$4,096,486
To balance the need for a just transition for plumbers and pipefitters with the added cost and regulatory requirements of dual plumbing systems on new development, staff recommends setting the size threshold for a dual plumbing ordinance no smaller than 50,000 gsf. Staff’s Phase I recommendation is specific to requiring dual plumbing to collect greywater for reuse in outdoor irrigation, where treatment is not required. While indoor re-use of greywater is currently allowed in the code, we do not recommend requiring installation of systems for indoor reuse because state regulations for this use will change by the end of this year. State representatives have indicated that existing non-potable water reuse systems for indoor end uses would need to be decommissioned following the effective date of SB 966 should a local jurisdiction not implement an onsite non-potable water reuse program.
Opportunities for Holistic Building Retrofits: Law and Legislation committee members asked staff to explore opportunities for building retrofits including dual plumbing for existing buildings. Research has shown that dual plumbing retrofits are not economically or practically feasible in most cases due to the high cost and logistical challenges of removing walls and fixtures in already constructed buildings. Plumbing fixture retrofits (such as low flow toilets and showerheads) are regarded as a more viable option for existing buildings. SB 407 mandates water efficient fixture retrofits for all buildings constructed prior to 1994 when a property is undergoing significant alterations or improvements (law effective in 2017). In addition, installation of heat pump hot water heaters and heat pump HVAC systems present significant job opportunity for plumbers as the City works to electrify its existing building stock. In addition, updates to the State’s Cross Connection Control Regulations pursuant to Assembly Bill 1671 may result in additional jobs for plumbers.
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Attachment 2-Committee Follow Up Information Table
Requested follow-up from
July 19th Law & Legislation
Committee
Staff Action Information/Recommendation
Conduct additional meetings
with Local 447 and other
stakeholders and tour 10th &
O Street State Office Building
Project to generate
additional ideas for Dual
Plumbing Ordinance
Staff met with Local 447 on 8/9
and 8/23, and 9/9 to discuss
additional ideas for dual
plumbing ordinance.
Staff met with Builders Exchange
on 9/6 to discuss impacts to
development.
Staff toured the 10th and O State
Office Building on 9/19.
Staff have incorporated
feedback from additional
outreach into the revised
recommendations.
Investigate workforce
impacts to plumbers and
pipefitters in Sacramento
and provide
recommendations for right-
sizing program
Staff analyzed information
provided by Local 447 on
projected job losses due to the
new building electrification
ordinance.
Staff reviewed a statewide job
impacts report commissioned by
UCLA’s Luskin Center for
Innovation as well as a report
from the City of San Diego on
job impacts of building
decarbonization.
Staff is investigating the broader
regulatory environment to
determine other potential
pathways for job transition for
plumbers and pipefitters
Methodology used by Local
447 to determine workforce
impacts included HVAC
retrofit work, and projects
not under the purview of
the City (schools,
government buildings).
Methodology did not
account for rate of growth
in Sacramento or the
number of plumbers in the
region. Additional
information is needed to vet
the projected job impacts
from New Building
Electrification in
Sacramento.
San Diego performed a jobs
impact analysis of building
decarbonization and found
minimal immediate job
impact for plumbers and
pipefitters.
Updates to state Cross
Connection Control
Regulations are underway
pursuant to Assembly Bill
1671 which may have
positive impacts on jobs.
Existing building
electrification retrofits
including heat pump hot
water heaters and heat
pump HVAC systems will
Attachment 2-Committee Follow Up Information Table
provide opportunity for
work by plumbers. Staff
discussed these
opportunities with Local 447
representatives who
confirmed that members
are training to install these
systems.
Provide summary of best
practices from other cities
for implementation of Dual
Plumbing Ordinance
Staff developed a table with high
level information about all cities
who have enacted a dual
plumbing and/or onsite water
reuse ordinance (see below)
Case studies for San
Francisco, Santa Monica,
and Honolulu were
developed as part of the
initial study.
All other cities that have
implemented onsite water
reuse programs have started
with multi-year study
periods and voluntary pilots.
These examples highlight
the benefit of voluntary
pilot projects to learn about
benefits and challenges of
onsite water reuse in the
local context.
Study returns on investment
projections, and potential
financial incentives to offset
the costs of installing and
operating onsite water reuse
that could be implemented
in Sacramento
As part of Phase 2, staff can hire
consultants to complete studies
to explore potential reductions
in impact fees and changes to
wastewater and drainage rates.
The studies will be required for
compliance with Prop 218.
Estimated cost is $60,000 and
will need to be budgeted. Staff
could also explore rebates.
Literature suggests that
Onsite Water Reuse projects
are typically not cost
effective. Rebates and
incentives may be required
to facilitate adoption of a
Dual Plumbing
Ordinance/Onsite Water
Reuse program.
Investigate potential
workforce impact of
reducing building size
threshold for potential Dual
Plumbing Ordinance.
Investigate economic and
technical feasibility of
implementing dual plumbing
and/or Onsite Water Reuse
Systems in smaller buildings.
Staff assessed building and
planning data to determine the
total number of buildings that
meet various size thresholds.
Staff gathered information on
construction valuation of
projects built in the last twelve
years to determine the
relationship between building
size and average construction
valuation.
Commercial nonresidential
buildings 100,000 gsf or
larger represent at least 16
percent of the total number
of commercial
nonresidential projects that
have received their planning
entitlements (size of some
buildings is unknown). This
share of projects represents
significantly more than 16%
of the total job valuation of
projects in development,
Attachment 2-Committee Follow Up Information Table
since larger buildings are
more expensive to
construct, and thus would
have greater job impact.
Commercial nonresidential
buildings 50,000 gsf or
greater represent
approximately 17 percent of
the total number of
commercial nonresidential
buildings constructed
between 2010 and 2021.
However, these buildings
represent approximately
75% of the total
construction valuation of
commercial nonresidential
buildings.
Investigate potential for
including multifamily
residential buildings in Dual
Plumbing Ordinance
Staff assessed building and
planning data to determine the
total number of buildings in
development in Sacramento,
including residential building
types (see figures 1 and 2,
below)
The scope of the initial study
was for large commercial
buildings. Additional
analysis and outreach would
need to be conducted if dual
plumbing requirements are
being contemplated for
residential development.
Staff does not recommend
including multi-family
residential building types
due to the cost burden on
housing development.
Multi-unit Residential
buildings have very high
rates of greywater flow,
meaning that complex
greywater systems with
storage tanks and treatment
would be required.
The City Council adopted
Vision and Guiding
Principles of the 2040
General Plan include a
commitment to
“concentrate new growth
within Sacramento’s existing
footprint to promote a
Attachment 2-Committee Follow Up Information Table
compact development
pattern that supports
efficient delivery of public
services and infrastructure,
while protecting
surrounding open space
lands.” This development
pattern supports limited
future water demand for
landscape irrigation.
Investigate potential for
including single family
residential buildings in Dual
Plumbing Ordinance
Staff researched additional cities
that have implemented pre-
plumbing requirements for
greywater systems in new
single-family homes.
Staff met with the Water
Conservation Coordinator from
Department of Utilities to
discuss best practices and
considerations for simple
greywater systems.
Several other cities (see
below) require pre-
plumbing in all new single-
family development for
simple greywater systems
for outdoor end uses only
(drip irrigation). A dual
plumbing ordinance of this
type would have different
implications for water
conservation and jobs.
Many of the takeaways from
the completed study are not
applicable to onsite reuse of
greywater in single family
homes.
The City of Sacramento
already has a “laundry to
landscape” greywater
rebate/incentive program,
which has had very limited
uptake.
Investigate potential for dual
plumbing retrofits as part of
“whole home” upgrades,
paired with existing building
electrification
Staff researched the viability of
dual plumbing retrofits for
existing buildings in Sacramento.
Staff met with Department of
Utilities Water Conservation
Coordinator about areas of
opportunity for retrofits.
Literature suggests it is
widely accepted that dual
plumbing retrofits are not
economically or practically
feasible in most cases. a
Fixture retrofits (such as low
flow toilets and
showerheads) are regarded
as a more viable option for
existing buildings. SB 407
mandates water efficient
fixture retrofits for all
buildings constructed prior
to 1994 when a property is
Attachment 2-Committee Follow Up Information Table
undergoing significant
alterations or improvements
(law effective in 2017).
Installation of heat pump
hot water heaters and heat
pump HVAC systems
presents significant job
opportunity for plumbers as
the City works to electrify its
existing building stock.
Investigate potential for an
accelerated timeline to align
more closely with job
impacts associated with the
New Building Electrification
Ordinance
Staff discussed potential
timeline options internally and
during outreach efforts with
Local 447.
Staff recommend bringing
forth the phase one dual
plumbing ordinance for
adoption no sooner than
December 2022, with an
effective date of no sooner
than July 1, 2023.
Staff do not recommend
accelerating the phase 2
recommendation timeline
due to unknowns with SB
966 and best practices from
other cities which suggest a
much longer study period
and the launch of pilot
programs prior to
implementation of onsite
reuse requirements.
Staff recommend that
agency roles and
responsibilities for the city
and county be established
prior to onsite water reuse
program implementation.
Attachment 2-Committee Follow Up Information Table
Dual Plumbing/Onsite Water Reuse Requirements –Case Comparison Table
City Basic
Program
Requirements
Adoption Date
(effective date)
Mandatory/
Voluntary
Building
Types
Source Water
San
Francisco,
CA
All buildings
100,000 gsf or
greater must
use recycled
water to meet
demands for
toilet and
urinal flushing
and drain trap
priming
Originally
adopted 9/2012,
Amended to
reduce building
size threshold
9/9/2021
(effective
1/1/2022)
Mandatory all new
development
100,000 gsf
or greater
greywater,
blackwater
Austin,
TX
Program
adopted local
regulations
for treatment
of non-
potable water
for onsite
reuse
12/1/2020 Voluntary Multi-unit
residential
and
commercial
(does not
apply to
single family
homes)
rainwater,
greywater,
blackwater,
condensate
Tucson,
AZ
All new
single-family
homes and
duplexes
must include,
on the plans,
plumbing for
gray water
distribution to
irrigation (not
for flushing
toilets)
6/1/2010 Mandatory Residential
(all single
family and
duplexes)
greywater
Attachment 2-Committee Follow Up Information Table
Encinitas,
CA
Newly
constructed
single family
dwelling units
must be pre-
plumbed for a
greywater
system
November 2016
(effective January
2017)
Mandatory single family
residential
greywater
Attachment 3-Onsite Water Reuse – Workplan and Timeline
1 Workplan Tasks Timeline
Developer Outreach
Additional outreach is needed to
communicate potential new
requirements with commercial
nonresidential developers.
September 2022-ongoing
Phase 1 Ordinance Development: Dual
Plumbing Ordinance for greywater reuse in
new commercial nonresidential buildings
50,000 gsf or greater
Draft ordinance
Attorney review
Review by Draft Ordinance Review
Committee
Present draft ordinance to Law and
Legislation
Pass for publication at City Council
Ordinance adoption at City Council
September 2022-December 2022
Phase 1: Dual Plumbing Ordinance
Implementation
Coordination with Building Division to
develop processes for implementation
of dual plumbing requirements
Ongoing communication with project
applicants regarding dual plumbing
requirements
Ongoing
Anticipated effective date: July 1, 2023
Holistic approach to just transition of plumbing
and pipefitting workforce
Study other plumbing retrofit options
and their potential job for job benefit
and water conservation.
Study opportunities related to
installation of heat pump hot water
heaters and heat pump HVAC systems
in existing buildings.
Study opportunities related to updated
cross connection control regulations
pursuant to Assembly Bill 1671.
Ongoing collaboration with the Clean
and Green workforce working group
Updates to City water conservation
plan and water rebate programs
December 2022 update to City Council,
ongoing engagement
Phase 2: Onsite Water Reuse Feasibility Study
Determine costs, operational needs,
and regulatory requirements of
2023-2025 – initiate and complete
phase 2 study.
Attachment 3-Onsite Water Reuse – Workplan and Timeline
2 establishing an onsite water reuse
program in the City of Sacramento.
Analyze the costs on development to
construct, operate and maintain an
onsite water reuse system.
Study operational requirements of
district scale systems, per stakeholder
feedback advocating for inclusion of
district scale requirements for certain
multi-building developments.
Study and recommend potential
financial incentives and rebates that
could be provided to help offset the
costs of constructing and operating an
onsite water reuse system. Studies will
be required for compliance with Prop.
218 with estimated consultant cost of
$60,000.
Follow SB 966 regulation development.
Develop program forms and
documents.
City Permitting Adjustments, as
needed.
Develop program website.
County permitting and water quality
oversight program development (if
needed).
Outreach to relevant stakeholders
Summer 2023 Kick-off with
stakeholders and meet regularly
throughout the study phase.
2025 - Bring forward recommendations
for ordinance revisions, as needed, for
adoption in 2026.
Optional Tasks based on Law and Legislation
Committee Direction
Hire a consultant to conduct a full job impacts
study
Basic analysis of workforce impacts is
detailed in the staff report. More time
and additional financial resources
would be required to develop a full
understanding of the workforce
impacts of building electrification in
Sacramento.
To be determined based on direction from Law
and Legislation Committee
Best practices from other cities
Additional case studies could be
developed with more time and
additional consultant resources.
Additional outreach to other cities
could be conducted with additional
time and resources.
To be determined based on direction from Law
and Legislation Committee
Attachment 3-Onsite Water Reuse – Workplan and Timeline
3 Expansion of requirements to multi-unit
residential building types
Cost effectiveness study required to
determine economic impacts on
residential building applications.
Additional study and analysis of
potential incentive/rebate programs.
Targeted outreach to market rate and
affordable housing developers.
To be completed prior to potential expansion
of dual plumbing ordinance requirements to
include to include residential building types
Expansion of requirements to single family and
duplex dwellings
Cost effectiveness study required to
determine economic impacts on
residential building applications.
Additional study and analysis of
potential incentive/rebate programs.
Targeted outreach to single family
housing developers.
To be completed prior to potential expansion
of dual plumbing ordinance requirements to
include single family and duplex dwellings
1 Attachment 4-Dual Plumbing Ordinance – Proposed Framework Staff recommends a phased approach for implementation of a dual plumbing ordinance and onsite water reuse treatment requirements. The proposed considerations and timing are detailed below. These recommendations are informed by the Key Findings of the Dual Plumbing Feasibility Study and Additional Considerations sections of the July 19, 2022, Law and Legislation Committee staff report as well as stakeholder input and follow up tasks as advised by Law and Legislation Committee members.
Phase One: Dual Plumbing Ordinance (Commercial Nonresidential Buildings) Recommended Adoption and Effective Date
• 12/6/22 – City Council Adoption of Dual Plumbing Ordinance • 7/1/23 – Proposed Effective Date of Dual Plumbing Ordinance Recommended Dual Plumbing Requirements
Amend Title 15 (Buildings and Construction) of the Sacramento Code to require dual plumbing in new buildings as currently permitted under the California Plumbing Code for commercial nonresidential buildings 50,000 square feet (sf) or greater.
Limited exemptions:
Warehouses and storage facilities due to low fixture density and no or very limited landscaping requirements.
Grocery stores and childcare facilities which are both in high-demand and are uses that are particularly sensitive to increased construction costs.
Allowed Source Water and End Uses:
The California Plumbing Code permitted sources of greywater include clothes washing machines, hand washing sinks (non-kitchen sinks), showers and bathtubs. The California Plumbing Code permitted end uses of greywater include toilet flushing, urinal flushing, and subsurface landscape irrigation.
Untreated greywater can be used outdoors for subsurface irrigation only. Treatment and compliance with SB 966 (effective December 1, 2022) is required for indoor end uses of greywater.
Phase Two: Onsite Water Reuse Treatment for Grey & Blackwater Onsite Water Treatment Feasibility Study:
To be initiated by Department of Utilities in 2023
Study will cover costs, potential incentives, operational needs, and regulatory requirements of establishing a full onsite water reuse program (for greywater and blackwater) in the City of Sacramento.
Recommended Effective Date:
2 January 1, 2026, to align with 2025 California Plumbing Code and full implementation of the New Building Electrification Ordinance.
Alignment with SB 966 regulations regarding water quality standards for onsite non-potable water reuse.