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HomeWater CodeDiv. 2Pt. 2Ch. 7Art. 6§ 1486 Wastewater Discharge Water Rights

§ 1486 Wastewater Discharge Water Rights

Water Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 1486 Wastewater Discharge Water Rights

Key Takeaways

  • •A sanitation district can ask for permission to take water from the Sacramento River, but only as much as the clean water they put back in.
  • •They can't take all the water they put in because some gets lost naturally (like soaking into the ground or evaporating).
  • •The state can say yes but with rules to protect others who use the river water.
  • •The water they take can be sold or used for good things, like farming or drinking.

Example

A sanitation district cleans dirty water and puts 100 gallons of clean water into the Sacramento River every day. By the time the water travels downstream to where they want to take it out, 10 gallons are lost due to evaporation or soaking into the ground.

The district can ask the state for permission to take up to 90 gallons (100 gallons put in minus the 10 gallons lost) from the river for their use.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 1486 Wastewater Discharge Water Rights

(a) The Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District, and any successor thereto, with respect to treated wastewater produced by the sanitation district that meets the requirements of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, as may be amended or modified, and that is discharged into the Sacramento River, may file an application for a permit to appropriate an amount of water up to the amount of treated wastewater that is discharged into the Sacramento River, less diminution by seepage, evaporation, transportation, or other natural causes between the point of discharge from its wastewater treatment plant and the point of diversion out of the Sacramento River or the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. (b) Upon application for a permit to appropriate water pursuant to subdivision (a), the board may grant the permit subject to the terms and conditions as in the board’s judgment are necessary for the protection of the rights of any legal user of the water. (c) Prior to the board granting a permit under subdivision (b), the board shall comply with the provisions of this part, and other applicable law, and may impose terms and conditions authorized thereunder. (d) Water appropriated in accordance with this section may be sold or utilized for any beneficial purpose. (Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 162, Sec. 184. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2013.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

Sacramento Regional County Sanitation Districttreated wastewaterpermit to appropriateSacramento River

Related Statutes

  • § 13540 Domestic Water Well Protection
  • § 13541 Waste Well Definition
  • § 1485 Wastewater Reuse Permit Rules
  • § 4325 Watermaster Fund Collection Procedure
  • § 4326 Water Association Expense Agreement

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Water Code. Section 1486.
View Official Source