Water Waste Regulations Revisions
per AB1572
August 18, 2026
City Council
Lisa Cuellar
Water Use Efficiency Coordinator
Santa Rosa Water
AB 1572 – Executive Summary
• Signed into law in 2023, AB 1572 prohibits potable water use for irrigating nonfunctional turf (NFT) on commercial, industrial, institutional (CII) properties, and HOAs.
• Exemptions: tree irrigation, public parks, cemeteries, and health/safety needs.
• By January 1, 2027, the City of Santa Rosa must update city code to address AB 1572 compliance and notify
impacted customers.
2 AB 1572 – Purpose
• California faces persistent drought and climate change impacts on water supplies.
• AB 1572 builds on previous conservation legislation (SB 606 & AB 1668).
• Potable water use for nonfunctional turf is considered wasteful and unsustainable.
• The ordinance ensures compliance with state law and supports long-term conservation goals.
3 4
Dept. General Services
Local Gov’t & Public Agencies
2027
Commercial, Industrial,
Institutional
2028
HOA Common Areas
2029
Local Gov’t in DACs*
2031
*Or when funding available
AB 1572 Compliance Timeline
• Nonfunctional turf refers to an irrigated lawn that is purely decorative and not regularly used for recreation or public/ community gatherings.
5 “If the only time you walk
on the turf is to mow it,
it is considered
nonfunctional.”
What is Nonfunctional Turf?
6 NFT Examples
HOA Common Areas
Deadline: Jan. 2029
Business Parks
Deadline: Jan. 2028
City of Santa Rosa Owned Facilities Compliance
• The City of Santa Rosa has 174 city-owned irrigation accounts:
• 141 attributed to city owned parks or recreation parcels, and • 33 attributed to all other city owned parcels.
• GIS review and select site reconnaissance conducted to identify areas of NFT with potable irrigation. A total of two sites identified as meeting compliance criteria.
• Parks and recreational areas deemed excluded due to “functional” turf designation and presence of established trees.
7 • Approx 1,000 square feet
of NFT
• Estimated landscaping
costs ($7-11/sq. ft) =
$7,000 - $11,000
8 Santa Rosa Facilities Compliance – Fire Station #3
*Note: Project would qualify for $1,000
Cash-For-Grass rebate
Notification letters mailed to all affected accounts (Aug 2026) WaterSmart branded fact sheets and guidance documents City webpage: www.srcity.org/NFT
City email: [email protected]
Commercial landscape transformation resources (in development):
Groundcover alternatives
Irrigation modifications and best practices
Low-cost approaches – sheetmulching demonstration
9 NFT Communication Plan
Outdoor Rebates
Commercial: $10,000 annually/ meter
10 www.srcity.org/watersmart
WaterSmart Rebates
Commercial: $1,000 lifetime cap/meter
Water Waste Regulations
• Santa Rosa City Code Chapter 14-21 Water Waste Regulations adopted by City Council in 1999*
• Purpose: To promote the efficient use of potable and recycled water by prohibiting water uses which constitute water waste. • Enforcement – City may:
• Issue a written warning
• Issue administrative fines
• Disconnect water service
*(Ord. 2023-014, 11/14/2023, Ord. 3845 § 7, 2007; Ord. 3426 § 2, 1999) 11 Water Waste Regulation – Proposed Revisions
• Definitions (§ 14-21.020):
• 13 added (verbatim of statute)
• “water waste” includes new reference to potable irrigation of NFT • Prohibition of irrigating nonfunctional turf (§ 14-21.050):
NEW (verbatim of statute)
• Enforcement (§ 14-21.060): Reference to NEW prohibition, enforcement mechanism not modified.
*See Attachment 2 in agenda package
12 Budget Impacts
• Adoption of this ordinance has no immediate budget
impact.
• Potential long-term costs: customer compliance support, enforcement, and monitoring.
• Future funding requests will follow normal budgetary
approval process.
13 Timeline for Approval
WC Subcommittee – Overview of Code Changes (May
18th )
BPU - Recommendation to Council (June 18th)
City Council – Ordinance Introduction & Public Hearing (August 18th)
• City Council - Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance (September 15)
• Proposed Effective Date (October 16 – 31 days following second reading)
14 Recommendation
The Board of Public Utilities and Santa Rosa Water
recommend that the Council approve the first reading and introduce an ordinance amending Santa Rosa City Code
Chapter 14-21 Water Waste Regulations to include clarifying definitions, a prohibition for irrigating nonfunctional turf with potable water, compliance deadlines per affected property type, enforcement provisions, and make other clarifying changes. This item has no impact on current fiscal year budget.
15 QUESTIONS?
16 OPEN PUBLIC HEARING
17