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Chapter 15 — ALTERNATE WATER SOURCES FOR NONPOTABLE APPLICATIONS

1503.5 Plot Plan Submission. No permit for a gray water

California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5) · 2019 edition · updated 2026-09-10 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

system shall be issued until a plot plan with data satisfactory to the Authority Having Jurisdiction has been submitted and approved.

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TABLE 1503.4 7

LOCATION OF GRAY WATER SYSTEM

MINIMUM HORIZONTAL DISTANCE IN
CLEAR REQUIRED FROM
SURGE TANK
(feet)
SUBSURFACE AND SUBSOIL
IRRIGATION FIELD AND
MULCH BASIN
(feet)
DISPOSAL FIELD
Building structures1
52, 3, 9
23, 8
5
Property line adjoining private property
5
58
5
Water supply wells4
50
100
100
Streams and lakes4
50
100_5~~~~, 10_
1005
Sewage pits or cesspools
5
5
5
Sewage disposal field10
5
46
46
Septic tank
0
5
5
On-site domestic water service line
5
0
0

Pressurized public water main7
10 10~~~~7 107

Notes: 1 Building structures do not include porches and steps, whether covered or uncovered, breezeways, roofed carports, roofed porte cocheres, roofed patios, carports, covered walks, covered driveways, and similar structures or appurtenances. 2 The distance shall be permitted to be reduced to 0 feet for aboveground tanks where first approved by the Authority Having Jurisdiction. 3 Underground tanks shall not be located within a 45 degree angle from the bottom of the foundation, or they shall be designed to address the surcharge imposed by the structure. The distance may be reduced to six (6) inches (153 mm) for aboveground tanks when first approved by the Enforcing Agency. 4 Where special hazards are involved, the distance required shall be increased as directed by the Authority Having Jurisdiction. 5 These minimum clear horizontal distances shall apply between the irrigation or disposal field and the ocean mean higher high tide line. 6 Add 2 feet (610 mm) for each additional foot of depth more than 1 foot (305 mm) below the bottom of the drain line. 7 For parallel construction or crossings, approval by the Authority Having Jurisdiction shall be required. 8 The distance shall be permitted to be reduced to 11⁄2 feet (457 mm) for drip and mulch basin irrigation systems. 9 The distance shall be permitted to be reduced to 0 feet for surge tanks of 75 gallons (284 L) or less. 10 The minimum horizontal distance may be reduced to 50 feet (15 240 mm) for irrigation or disposal fields utilizing gray water which has been filtered prior to entering the distribution piping.

314 2019 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE

any other purpose or distributed to any other persons or part ies. ALTERNATE WATER SOURCES FOR NONPOTABLE APPLICATIONS

Exception: [HCD 1] A construction permit shall not be required for a clothes washer system in compliance with Sec- tion 1503.1.1.

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Contents — California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5)
California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5)
  1. Chapter 1 — GENERAL CODE PROVISIONS
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — GENERAL REGULATIONS
  4. Chapter 4 — PLUMBING FIXTURES AND FIXTURE FITTINGS
  5. Chapter 5 — WATER HEATERS
  6. Chapter 6 — WATER SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION
  7. Chapter 7 — SANITARY DRAINAGE
  8. Chapter 8 — INDIRECT WASTES
  9. Chapter 9 — VENTS
  10. Chapter 10 — TRAPS AND INTERCEPTORS
  11. Chapter 11 — STORM DRAINAGE
  12. Chapter 12 — FUEL GAS PIPING
  13. Chapter 13 — HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AND MEDICAL GAS AND MEDICA…
  14. Chapter 14 — FIRESTOP PROTECTION
  15. Chapter 15 — ALTERNATE WATER SOURCES FOR NONPOTABLE APPLICATIONS
    Overview
    1. 1501.0 General.1501.1 Applicability [BSC-CG, DWR & HCD 1]. The
    2. 1501.2 System Design. Alternate water source systems
    3. 1501.3 Permit [BSC-CG, HCD 1, DWR]. It shall be unlawful for a…
    4. 1501.4 Component Identification. System components
    5. 1501.5 Maintenance and Inspection 1, DWR]. Alternate water sou…
    6. 1501.6 Operation and Maintenance Manual [BSC-
    7. 1501.7 Minimum Water Quality Requirements [BSC-
    8. 1501.8 Material Compatibility. Alternate water source systems …
    9. 1501.9 Signage [BSC-CG, HCD 1, HCD 2, HCD 1-AC, &DWR]. Signage…
    10. 1501.10 System Controls. Controls for pumps, valves, and
    11. 1501.11 Hose Bibbs for Single-Family Dwellings [HCD1]. Hose bi…
    12. 1502.2 Supply System Inspection and Test. Alternate
    13. 1502.3 Cross-Connection Inspection and Testing. An
    14. 1502.6 Sizing. Unless otherwise provided for in this chapter, …
    15. 1503.1 General. The provisions of this section shall apply
    16. 1502.4 Separation Requirements. Underground alternate
    17. 1502.5 Abandonment. Alternate water source systems that
    18. 1503.2 System Requirements. Gray water shall be permitted to b…
    19. 1503.3 Connections to Potable and Reclaimed(Recycled) Water Sy…
    20. 1503.4 Location. No gray water system or part thereof shall
    21. 1503.5 Plot Plan Submission. No permit for a gray water
    22. 1503.6 Prohibited Location. Where there is insufficient
    23. 1503.7 Drawings and Specifications. The Authority
    24. 1503.9 Gray Water System Components. Gray water
    25. 1504.2 Required Area of Subsurface Irrigation
    26. 1504.3 Determination of Maximum Absorption Capac-
    27. 1504.4 Groundwater Level. No excavation for an irrigation fiel…
    28. 1504.5 Irrigation, Disposal Field and Mulch Basin Con-structio…
    29. 1504.6 Reserved.
    30. 1504.7 Reserved.
    31. 1504.8 Gray Water System Color and Marking Infor-mation. Press…
    32. 1504.9 Other Collection and Distribution Systems. Other collec…
    33. 1504.10 Testing. Building drains and vents for gray water
    34. 1504.11 Maintenance. Gray water systems and components shall b…
    35. 1505.0 Recycled Water 1505.1 General. The provisions of Supply…
    36. 1505.3 System Changes. No changes or connections shall
    37. 1505.4 Connections to Potable or Reclaimed (Recy-cled) Water S…
    38. 1505.2 Permit. It shall be unlawful for a person to construct,
    39. 1505.5 Initial Cross-Connection Test. A cross-connection test …
    40. 1505.6 Recycled Water Recycled water supply system materials s…
    41. 1505.8 Valves. Valves, except fixture supply control valves,
    42. 1505.9 Hose Bibbs. Hose bibbs shall not be allowed on
    43. 1505.10 Required Appurtenances. The recycled water
    44. 1505.11 Pipe Separation in Trenches. Reclaimed (recycled) wate…
    45. 1505.12 Signage. Signs in rooms and water closet tanks in
    46. 1505.13 Inspection and Testing. Recycled water supply
    47. 1505.15 Maintenance and Inspection. Recycled water
    48. 1506.0 On-Site Treated Nonpotable Gray Water Sys-
    49. 1506.2 Plumbing Plan Submission. No permit for an
    50. 1506.3 System Changes. No changes or connections shall
    51. 1506.4 Connections to Potable or Reclaimed (Recy-
    52. 1506.5 Initial Cross-Connection Test. A cross-connection test …
    53. 1506.6 On-Site Treated Nonpotable tem Materials. On-site treat…
    54. 1506.7 On-Site Treated Nonpotable Devices and Systems. Devices…
    55. 1506.9 Design and Installation. The design and installation of…
    56. 1506.10 Valves. Valves, except fixture supply control
    57. 1506.11 Signs. Signs in buildings using on-site treated nonpot…
    58. 1506.12 Inspection and Testing. On-site treated nonpotable gra…
  16. Chapter 16 — NONPOTABLE RAINWATER CATCHMENT SYSTEMS
  17. Chapter 17 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  18. Appendix A — RECOMMENDED RULES FOR SIZING THE WATER SUPPLY SYS…
  19. Appendix B — EXPLANATORY NOTES ON COMBINATION WASTE AND VENT S…
  20. Appendix C — ALTERNATE PLUMBING SYSTEMS
  21. Appendix D — SIZING STORM WATER DRAINAGE SYSTEMS
  22. Appendix E — MANUFACTURED/MOBILE HOME PARKS AND RECREATIONAL V…
  23. Appendix F — FIREFIGHTER BREATHING AIR REPLENISHMENT SYSTEMS
  24. Appendix G — SIZING OF VENTING SYSTEMS
  25. Appendix H — PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS
  26. Appendix I — INSTALLATION STANDARD FOR PEX TUBING SYSTEMS FOR …
  27. Appendix J — COMBINATION OF INDOOR AND OUTDOOR COMBUSTION AND …
  28. Appendix K — POTABLE RAINWATER CATCHMENT SYSTEMS
  29. Appendix L — SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
  30. Appendix M — PEAK WATER DEMAND CALCULATOR

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