Celebrating the Flavor of Tuolumne County
Taste: to perceive or experience the flavor of. Flavor: an indication of the essential character of something.
Toilet Talk
Did you know…
Effective January 1, 2017 California law requires homeowners of homes built prior to 1994 to install low-flow water-conserving plumbing fixtures. This is not a “point of sale” requirement, like the smoke detector law, but the seller of a single-family home will be required to disclose whether the property is in compliance with the law. Even though upgrading to low-flow fixtures isn’t a requirement at the time of sale, if a home built before 1994 is altered or improved, then water-conserving plumbing fixtures must be installed as a condition of final permit approval. (Cal. Civ. Code section 1101.4)
The California Association of Realtors has published a great Q&A on the new law. Below is an excerpt:
What is the purpose of the water conserving plumbing fixtures law (“WCP fixtures law”)?
A The legislature thinks that water conservation is a cost effective approach to the challenges created by not having enough water. Those challenges include future economic health; environmental health; growing urban areas; water reliability; waste water treatment; energy and other resource costs; and protecting and restoring aquatic resources. All of these issues were cited as reasons behind this effort to promote water conservation.
What is the definition of “water-conserving plumbing fixture”?
A Water-conserving plumbing fixture means any fixture that is in compliance with current building standards applicable to a newly constructed real property. (Cal. Civ. Code section 1101.3.)
What is the definition of “noncompliant fixture”?
A The law calls for installation of water-conserving plumbing fixtures only when the existing plumbing fixtures are “non-compliant.” Noncompliant plumbing fixture means (1) any toilet manufactured to use more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush (2) any urinal manufactured to use more than one gallon of water per flush (3) any showerhead manufactured to have a flow capacity of more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute (4) any interior faucet that emits more than 2.2 gallons of water per minute. (Cal. Civ. Code section 1101.3.)
Does the water conservation law apply to all types of property?
A No. The law only applies to property built and available for use on or before January 1, 1994. (Cal. Civ. Code section 1101.2.)
Why does it only apply to buildings built before January 1, 1994?
A Under federal law, all residential toilets manufactured after January 1, 1994 must use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush. In California ultra-low flush toilets have been required in all new construction since January 1, 1992.
Interested in a copy of the entire Q&A? Shoot me an email or give me a call. I’m happy to help. robin@tuolumnehomes.com or 209-536-3000.
Celebrating the Flavor of Tuolumne County 
I’ll be moving to the area from Texas very soon. These kind of rules will be difficult for me to adjust to.
Funny you say that because I have a friend who moved to Texas not too long ago and she was saying how nice it is to not be over regulated. ha. But even with that, California and especially the Mother Lode is such a beautiful place to live. Please let me know if you need help with anything as you make your journey west.