Water Conservation & Plumbing Fixture Compliance – How You’re impacted

 Plumbing Fixture Replacement
In 2009, the California Legislature observed we can conserve water and protect the environment by using water efficient plumbing fixtures.  This not only helps us today, but also increases the likelihood sufficient, clean water will be available to our future generations.
California Civil Code 1101.1.(g) tells us, “ . . . it is the intent of the Legislature to require that residential and commercial real property built and available for use or occupancy on or before January 1, 1994, be equipped with water-conserving plumbing fixtures.”   This specifically impacts four plumbing fixture types, each of which is noncompliant:
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·    Any toilet manufactured to use more than 1.6 gallons of water per minute;
·    Any urinal manufactured to use more than one gallon of water per minute;
·    Any showerhead manufactured to have a flow capacity of more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute;
·    Any interior faucet that emits more than 2.2 gallons of water per minute.
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Impacts:  Single Family Home Sellers and Buyers
What it is NOT:  This is not a requirement that will halt your home transfer because of plumbing fixtures; in otherwords, this is not a point of sale requirement.
At the most basic level, if you plan to buy or sell a home, you’ll likely see a new disclosure / advisory.  This is to raise buyer awareness so they know plumbing fixtures are a subject for investigation.  
Alterations or improvements to your home may trigger the requirement to replace plumbing fixtures.  This may affect your building permit, occupancy or certificate of completion.   
Exceptions
While disclosure requirements continue, some real estate situations are excepted from retrofit.  Those include:
·         Registered historical sites;
·      Real property for which a licensed plumber certifies that, due to the age or configuration of the property or its plumbing, installation of water-conserving plumbing fixtures in not technically feasible;
·  A building for which water service is permanently disconnected.
Stating The Obvious
Water conservation is important and there is a push to replace noncompliant plumbing fixtures state-wide.  Be on the look out for genuine offers, incentives and other benefits of bringing your plumbing fixtures into compliance. 
Disclosure of noncompliant plumbing fixtures, along with building permits mandating compliance, will become more widely experienced.  Consult your real estate agent if you have questions regarding how this may affect your home.
As always, let’s foresee the possibilities . . . and get results!
 
Article source data: California Civil code Section 1101.1 through 1101.8