A bill signed into law Friday by Governor Gavin Newsom will now ban certain businesses from watering its grass in an effort to reduce water usage.
The bill is modeled after the State placed similar rules on commercial, industrial and government agencies from using drinking water for grass deemed “non-functional” in 2022.
The bill was introduced by Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Burbank) essentially bans the use of potable water for irrigation on non-functional turf. Home landscapes, edible gardens, and lawns used for recreation or civic gatherings would not be impacted by the requirements. The legislation uses a phased approach that begins with a 25% requirement for the use of low-water native plants in 2026, working up to 75% by 2035.
It should be noted that “recreational use area” definition in the bill includes an area designated by a property owner or a governmental agency to accommodate human foot traffic for recreation, including, but not limited to, sports fields, golf courses, playgrounds, picnic grounds, or pet exercise areas. This recreation may be either formal or informal.
Timelines to implement AB 1572:
- All properties owned by the Department of General Services, beginning January 1, 2027.
- All properties owned by local governments, local or regional public agencies, and public water systems, except those specified in paragraph (5), beginning January 1, 2027.
- All other institutional properties and all commercial and industrial properties, beginning January 1, 2028.
- All common areas of properties of homeowners’ associations, common interest developments, and community service organizations or similar entities, beginning January 1, 2029.
- All properties owned by local governments, local public agencies, and public water systems in a disadvantaged community, beginning January 1, 2031, or the date upon which a state funding source is made available to fund conversion of nonfunctional turf on these properties to climate-appropriate landscapes, whichever is later.
Under AB 1572, This bill would prohibit the use of potable water, as defined, for the irrigation of nonfunctional turf located on commercial, industrial, and institutional properties, other than a cemetery, and on properties of homeowners’ associations, common interest developments, and community service organizations or similar entities, as specified. The bill would authorize the State Water Resources Control Board to create a form for compliance certification and would require owners of covered properties to certify their compliance, as specified. The bill would authorize a public water system, city, county, or city and county to enforce these provisions, as specified. The bill would require the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development to support small and minority-owned businesses that provide services that advance compliance with these provisions.
AB 1572 passed with a 55-18 vote in the State Assembly while it passed the State Senate in a 29-10 vote.
Previous Water Related Stories:
- April 7 – Contra Costa Water District Ends Temporary Drought Surcharge
- March 24 – Governor Newsom Eases Drought Restrictions
- Jan 21 – DWR Launches Interagency Task Force as Part of Advance Planning for Drought Conditions
- Dec 12, 2022 – State Water Board Re-ups Ban on Wasteful Water Uses Amid Drought
