California’s Senate passed Assembly Bill 1572 in September to curtail the use of potable water for irrigating nonfunctional turf across various property types including commercial and residential properties.
The bill aims to foster water sustainability by targeting certain uses of potable water — in this case, potable water used to irrigate nonfunctional turf. The bill would begin a phase-in of this ban on specified property types beginning Jan. 1, 2027, if it is signed into law by Governor Newsom.
Nonfunctional turf is defined as any turf that is not functional turf, and includes turf located within street rights-of-way and parking lots, according to the bill.
“As we await word on whether the governor will sign the legislation, we are working to better understand the practical implications of the legislation,” says Nathan Bowen, vice president of public affairs and advocacy at the Irrigation Association.
The bill reads that “the use of potable water to irrigate nonfunctional turf is wasteful and incompatible with state policy relating to climate change, water conservation and reduced reliance on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem.”
Govenor Newsom has until Oct 14 to sign or veto the bill.
Read more about legislation.
