Public Works Agency
www.santa-ana.gov/pw
Item # 23
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
October 20, 2026
TOPIC: Ordinance Updating Article II of the Santa Ana Municipal Code Relating to Cross Connection Regulations and Repealing and Reenacting Article VI of Chapter 39 to Conform with Assembly Bill 1572, the Urban Water Management Plan Act and Health and Safety Code Section 116407.
AGENDA TITLE
Ordinance Updating Article II of the Santa Ana Municipal Code Relating to Cross Connection Regulations and Repealing and Reenacting Article VI of Chapter 39 to Conform with Assembly Bill 1572, the Urban Water Management Plan Act, and Health and Safety Code Section 116407
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Conduct a first reading and adopt an ordinance amending Article II of the Santa Ana Municipal Code Relating to Cross Connection Regulations and Repealing and Reenacting Article VI of Chapter 39 to conform with Assembly Bill 1572, the Urban Water Management Plan Act, and Health and Safety Code Section 116407.
ORDINANCE NO. NS-XXXX entitled AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF SANTA ANA UPDATING ARTICLE II OF THE SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL
CODE RELATING TO CROSS CONNECTION REGULATIONS AND REPEALING AND REENACTING ARTICLE VI OF CHAPTER 39 RELATING TO WATER CONSERVATION
AND WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY REGULATIONS TO CONFORM WITH ASSEMBLY BILL 1572, THE URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN ACT AND HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTION 116407 [includes determination that the proposed ordinance is exempt from environmental review in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and State CEQA Guidelines pursuant to Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations §§15307, 15308, 15061(b)(3) and California Water Code §10652]
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
The City of Santa Ana maintains a comprehensive water conservation program to promote the efficient and reasonable use of water, prevent water waste, and protect the reliability of the City’s water supply. Water supply protection requirements and Water Ordinance Updating Article II of SAMC Relating to Cross Connection Regulations and Repealing and Reenacting Article VI of Chapter 39 to Conform with Assembly Bill 1572, the Urban Water Management Plan Act and Health and Safety Code Section 116407 October 20, 2026
conservation requirements are codified in the Santa Ana Municipal Code (SAMC) Chapter 39, Article II and Article VI respectively. From time to time, the State enacts new water conservation legislation that requires the City to amend its Municipal Code accordingly.
Assembly Bill (AB) 1572 was signed into law by the Governor on October 13, 2023. AB 1572 specifically prohibits the use of potable water for irrigating nonfunctional turf on commercial, industrial, and institutional properties, as well as common areas of Home Owner Associations, common-interest developments, and community service organizations or similar entities. Nonfunctional turf is ornamental grass that does not serve a recreational, civic, or community purpose. The AB 1572 restrictions will apply to both existing and future properties based on the phased compliance deadlines beginning January 1, 2027. In addition to the irrigation prohibition, AB 1572 requires public water systems to update their local ordinances, regulations, policies, and communicate these requirements to customers via direct mail and the City’s website by January 1, 2027.
As an urban water supplier, the City is required under the Urban Water Management Plan Act of 1983 (Act) to update and submit an Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) and Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) every five years. The 2025 UWMP and WSCP were adopted by City Council on May 19, 2026 and are designed to prepare for, and respond to, water shortages. The State mandated that the 2025 UWMP and WSCP incorporate an annual drought risk assessment and new standard statewide water use prohibitions.
These new statewide water use prohibitions along with AB 1572, necessitate an update to the City’s water conservation requirements in SAMC Chapter 39, Article VI.
In addition, the City is required to comply with updated State regulations governing cross-connection control for the protection of drinking water supplies. On December 19, 2024, pursuant to the Health and Safety Code Section 116407, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) adopted a new Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook (CCCPH) which replaces California Code of Regulations, Title 17. In accordance with the CCCPH, the City has prepared a Cross Connection Management Plan (Exhibit 1) to establish procedures for administering and maintaining the City’s cross-connection and control program.
The State’s expanded water conservation requirements via AB 1572 (Exhibit 2), together with the requirements incorporated into the 2025 UWMP (Exhibit 3) and WSCP (Exhibit 4), and Cross-Connection Management Plan, necessitate corresponding updates to the City’s existing water conservation regulations. To ensure the Santa Ana Municipal Code remains consistent with the California Water Code and the City’s adopted water management plans, Staff recommends amending SAMC Chapter 39, Ordinance Updating Article II of SAMC Relating to Cross Connection Regulations and Repealing and Reenacting Article VI of Chapter 39 to Conform with Assembly Bill 1572, the Urban Water Management Plan Act and Health and Safety Code Section 116407 October 20, 2026
Article II and Article VI (Exhibit 5).
The proposed ordinance would:
• Meet the requirements of AB 1572 by prohibiting the use of potable water to irrigate nonfunctional turf located on specified public, commercial, industrial, and institutional properties according to state-mandated timelines, identifying applicable exceptions, and establishing enforcement mechanism options. • Align with the requirements of the UWMP Act by incorporating water shortage response actions identified in the UWMP and WSCP into the Municipal Code, while streamlining procedures for future plan updates.
• Ensure compliance with Health and Safety Code Section 116407 by amending the City’s cross-connection control regulations to conform to the SWRCB’s CCCPH, which establishes updated requirements for backflow prevention, testing, maintenance, and enforcement to protect the public drinking water supply.
Together, these amendments will provide the City with an updated framework for water conservation, water shortage response, and protection of the public water supply consistent with State statutes.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the State CEQA Guidelines, the introduction and adoption of the proposed ordinance is exempt from environmental review because the ordinance establishes regulations and procedures for the maintenance and protection of water resources and the environment pursuant to Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations §§ 15307, 15308. In addition, pursuant to California Water Code § 10652, actions taken to implement water shortage contingency plans are not subject to CEQA. Further, the proposed ordinance is exempt as it contains enforcement actions by a regulatory agency (14 CCR §15321). Moreover, the ordinance is exempt from CEQA because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the administrative, regulatory, and enforcement provisions of this ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment (14 CCR § 15061(b)(3)).
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the action.
Ordinance Updating Article II of SAMC Relating to Cross Connection Regulations and Repealing and Reenacting Article VI of Chapter 39 to Conform with Assembly Bill 1572, the Urban Water Management Plan Act and Health and Safety Code Section 116407 October 20, 2026
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Cross Connection Management Plan (https://santa-ana.gov/backflow/)
2. AB1572 (https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/conservation/nonfunctional-turf.html)
3. 2025 Urban Water Management Plan (https://santa-ana.gov/documents/draftsantaana_2025-uwmp-full-with-appendices)
4. 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan (https://santa-ana.gov/documents/draftsantaana_2025-wscp )
5. Proposed Ordinance
Submitted By: Rodolfo Rosas, P. E., Acting Executive Director of Public Works Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager