California's AB 1572 law was passed to help conserve water by reducing the use of drinking water on decorative grass that is not regularly used by people. Beginning between 2027 and 2029, many commercial properties, government facilities, schools, hospitals, and HOA common areas will no longer be allowed to use potable water to irrigate nonfunctional turf. Areas used for recreation, such as parks, sports fields, playgrounds, and other community gathering spaces, are not affected.
Property owners may need to replace unused turf with water-efficient landscaping and, in some cases, certify compliance with the law. The goal is to save water, support drought resilience, and encourage sustainable landscaping throughout California.
On July 3, 2024, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted the Making Conservation a California Way of Life regulation. The statewide regulation implements Assembly Bill 1668 and Senate Bill 606, passed in 2018, to establish long-term strategy for water conservation in California.
The National Drought Mitigation Center publishes drought monitor maps each Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The U.S. Drought Monitor is produced through a partnership between the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Stage 1 is a “Water Alert” where voluntary conservation is encouraged.
Outdoor irrigation is recommended not to exceed three days a week.
Customers may choose what days they would like to water OR follow the below schedule: Addresses ending in even numbers (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) water on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Addresses ending in odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) water on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.
(1) All properties owned by the Department of General Services (state government), beginning January 1, 2027.
(2) 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.
(3) All other institutional properties and all commercial and industrial properties, beginning January 1, 2028.
(4) All common areas of properties of homeowners’ associations, common interest developments, and community service organizations or similar entities, beginning January 1, 2029.
(5) 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.
Non-functional turf refers to an irrigation lawn that is purely decorative and not regularly used for recreation. Examples include decorative lawn along sidewalks, building edges, medians, roundabouts, parking lots, and unused areas near building entries.
No, this law does not apply to Residential customers. It applies to Commercial, Industrial and Commercial (CII) properties.
Visit the CalWEP Nonfunctional Turf Portal to check your property: https://nonfunctionalturfca.org/about-nft/
Yes, drinking water (potable) can still be used to water existing trees.
Liberty always encourages customers to report water waste by contacting Water Efficiency staff. You may also report water waste HERE.
Owners of large properties (e.g., over 5,000 sq ft of irrigated area) must self-certify compliance to the State Water Resources Control Board. Deadlines vary:
Absolutely! As we have seen, California is experiencing severe weather whiplash and we must continue to make conservation a California way of life.
Liberty offers a variety of conservation programs and resources to help customers use water efficiently. Visit our website at libertyenergyandwater.com to see what programs are currently available or contact your Water Efficiency team for more information.
We recommend starting with having your home or business participate in a free water audit. This will help you assess where you can reduce water and if you have any leaks. To learn more, contact your Water Efficiency team.