Pismo Beach Municipal Code Ch. 15.50 Water-Efficient Fixture Standards and Requirements

A. This chapter shall supersede all other chapters of this code as well as other codes governing the fixtures described herein. In furtherance of the city's water conservation efforts, the purposes of this chapter shall be to:

1. Promote water conservation and recognize the need to utilize water and other resources as efficiently as possible; and

2. Establish criteria and standards for the use of water conservation fixtures for the retrofit of existing buildings and fixtures as well as use of water conservation fixtures with respect to new construction.

B. No entity or organization shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter including, but not limited to, schools, state and federal agencies, religious organizations and charities. (Ord. O-2015-005 § 1 (part), 2015)

The following definitions are applicable within this chapter:

A. "Aerator" or "faucet aerator" means an apparatus installed on the outlet of a faucet which aerates and/or restricts the flow of water.

B. "Sub-meter" means a water meter which is installed between the water meter to a building and an individual space within the building, typically a tenant space or unit, but can include common areas, landscape areas and other such uses.

C. "Urinal" means a sanitary plumbing fixture for urination only.

D. "Waterless urinal" or "flushless urinal" means a sanitary plumbing fixture for urination only that uses no water to flush or dispose of urine. (Ord. O-2015-005 § 1 (part), 2015)

All urinals installed in a new building, new additional restroom within an existing building or replacement of an existing urinal shall be a waterless urinal. Exemptions to this section may be granted at the discretion of the city engineer under the following conditions:

A. The installation of a waterless urinal would cause an undue burden due to an incompatibility with the existing plumbing system.

1. If the cost to replace or remediate such incompatibility is twenty-five percent or less of the permitted construction costs, an exemption shall not be granted.

B. When installing a waterless urinal in an existing building, the installation of a waterless urinal would cause an undue burden due to the requirement of additional retrofits which may be required for the restroom or stall to remain compliant with other codes, such as the California Building Code.

C. Other unforeseen circumstances where the financial burden or other unforeseen burden outweighs the water savings generated by the waterless urinal.

D. The installation of a waterless urinal would cause a threat to public health and safety. (Ord. O-2015-005 § 1 (part), 2015)

All existing urinals within the city shall be retrofitted to waterless urinals before February 14, 2016. Exemptions to this section may be granted at the discretion of the city engineer under the following conditions:

A. The installation of a waterless urinal would cause an undue burden due to an incompatibility with the existing plumbing system.

B. The installation of a waterless urinal would cause an undue burden due to the requirement of additional retrofits which may be required for the restroom or stall to remain compliant with other codes, such as the California Building Code.

C. Other unforeseen circumstances where the financial burden or other unforeseen burden outweighs the water savings generated by the waterless urinal.

D. The installation of a waterless urinal would cause a threat to public health and safety.

E. Low-flow urinals using one-half gallon of water or less per flush and installed before July 21, 2015. (Ord. O-2015-005 § 1 (part), 2015)

A. All restroom faucets in all publicly accessible restrooms, including those in hotel rooms, lobbies and restrooms, restaurants, schools, commercial and retail buildings, public buildings and similar publicly accessible restrooms shall be retrofitted to install aerators that emit no more than one-half gallon per minute before October 17, 2015. Exemptions to this section may be granted at the discretion of the city engineer in the following cases:

1. When such a retrofit would cause an undue burden due to design of the faucet.

2. In cases to protect public health and safety.

B. Beginning with the effective date of this chapter, all restroom faucets in new residential construction shall be fitted with aerators that emit no more than one-half gallon per minute. Exemptions to this section may be granted at the discretion of the city engineer in the following cases:

1. In cases to protect public health and safety. (Ord. O-2015-005 § 1 (part), 2015)

All new multi-unit buildings, regardless of proposed use, shall be required to have a separate sub-meter capable of measuring the water use of every usable unit, separate common space and landscaping that is expected to use at least twenty-five gallons of water per day on average over the course of a year, regardless of the overall size of the building. Buildings that have a separate water meter for each unit are exempt. (Ord. O-2015-005 § 1 (part), 2015)