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Using Recycled Water

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Redwood City's Recycled Water Project provides disinfected tertiary recycled water to City customers for landscape irrigation and a variety of Title 22 approved non-potable uses including dust control, car washing, concrete mixing, toilet flushing, cooling, and other industrial uses.

Redwood City adopted a Recycled Water Use Ordinance in July 2008 that established the recycled water service area and requirements for use within the service area. The Ordinance (now City Code - Chapter 38 – Article VIII) identifies the required and voluntary uses of recycled water, including requirements for dual plumbing.

Recycled Water - Approved Uses

Redwood City’s recycled water is approved by State Water Resources Control Board – Division of Drinking Water (DDW) for the following uses:

  • Landscape Irrigation
  • Toilet & Urinal Flushing
  • Water features – Fountains, running streams, etc.
  • Wash-down
  • Cooling & Air Conditioning
  • Commercial Laundry
  • Window Washing
  • Commercial Car Washing
  • Construction
  • Dust control for Construction
  • Dust control for Industrial Process
  • Backfill consolidation & Soil Compaction
  • Concrete Batching
  • Firefighting – installed fire control systems and/or fire hydrants

Recycled Water Dos and Don’ts 

DO'S

DONT'S
  • Water trees, vegetables, gardens, lawns, etc.
  • Use for ornamental water feature (e.g. fountains)
  • Do not drink!
  • Do not use for food preparation
  • Do not use in children’s water toys
  • Do not use to bathe, shower, fill swimming pools or spas
  • Use on ponds with fish and other aquatic life is not advised                 ¤The City does not accept responsibility for the loss of                  fish and other aquatic life
  • Do not plumb into household domestic systems

    Redwood City, California - Code of Ordinances Article: VIII. - Recycled Water Use

    LANDSCAPE

    INTERNAL SEPARATE PLUMBING

    INTERNAL COOLING

    INDUSTRIAL PROCESS

    Existing/Remodeled Commercial/Industrial Buildings

    Required

    Consider/ Encouraged*

    Consider

    Consider/ Encouraged*

    New Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, and Government Projects

    Required

    Required

    Consider

    Consider/ Encouraged

    Existing/Remodeled Apartments, Condos and Townhomes

    Consider/ Encouraged

    Consider/ Encouraged*

    Consider

    Not Applicable

    New Apartments, Condos and Townhomes

    Required

    Required

    Consider

    Not Applicable

    Single Family HOAs

    Consider/ Encouraged

    Not Applicable

    Not Applicable

    Not Applicable

    Single Family Homes

    Discouraged

    Prohibited

    Prohibited

    Not Applicable