Los Angeles Passes Ordinance for Water Fixtures for New Buildings and Renovations and Waiver of Permit Requirements
The City of Los Angeles has passed an ordinance relating to requiring high efficiency water fixtures for all new buildings and renovations. The requirements come into effect on December 1, 2009. The requirements are as follows:
Toilets: All toilets installed shall be high efficiency fixtures. The maximum flush volume for high efficiency toilets shall not exceed 1.28 gallons of water (effective) per flush (gpf).
Urinals: All urinals installed shall be high efficiency fixtures. The maximum flush volume of high efficiency urinals shall not exceed 0.5 gallon of water per flush. Effective October 1, 2010, the maximum flush volume of high efficiency urinals shall not exceed 0.125 gallon of water per flush.
Faucets: All faucets in public restrooms must be self-closing. The flow rate for all indoor faucets shall be 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm) except as follows:
• The maximum flow rate for private or private use lavatory faucets shall be 1.5 gpm (5.6 Lpm).
• The maximum flow rate for public use lavatory faucets, shall be 0.5 gpm. Exception. Metering faucets shall deliver not more than 0.25 gallon (1.0 liter) of water per cycle.
• The maximum flow rate for a pre-rinse spray valve installed in a commercial kitchen to remove food waste from cookware and dishes prior to cleaning shall be 1.6 gpm (6.0 Lpm).
Showerheads: All showerheads must be low-flow with a maximum flow rate that does not exceed 2.0 gallons per minute. This requirement shall not apply to any emergency showerhead installed for health or safety purposes.
Dishwashers: See Table in ordinance. The maximum water use per washing cycle for high efficiency domestic dishwashers shall be 5.8 gallons.
All installed dishwashers must be Energy Star® rated.
Cooling Towers: All cooling towers must be operated at a minimum of 5.5 cycles of concentration.
Use of Single-Pass Cooling Systems: Single-pass cooling systems are strictly prohibited for use in devices, processes, or equipment installed in commercial, industrial, or multi-family residential buildings. This prohibition shall not apply to devices, processes, or equipment installed for health or safety purposes that cannot operate safely otherwise.
Beyond these ordinances, the city council also passed the following
For Residential, all showerheads, faucets and dishwashers shall be High Efficiency fixtures installed in accordance with the regulations of the City's Water Conservation Plan. A plumbing permit is not required for the installation of High Efficiency water closets, shower heads, faucets and dishwashers in existing one and two family dwelling units when done as part of the City's "Water Conservation Retrofit Program" pursuant to the City's water conservation regulations. These permit exempted installations shall be limited to the replacement of non-water efficlent water closets, shower 'heads, faucets and dishwashers with new High Efficiency water closets, shower heads, faucets, and dishwashers installed on the existing rough-in plumbing outlets. Plumbing permits shall be required for all High Efficiency fixtures in new buildings. This Code Section does not waive the requirement for a licensed plumbing contractor to perform the installation of a High Efficiency water fixture in an apartment unit or non-owner-occupied single-family dwellings.
For Commercial, whenever new fixtures are installed, all water closets, urinals, shower heads, faucets and dishwashers shall be High Efficiency fixtures installed in accordance with the regulations of the City's Water Conservation Ordinance. A plumbing permit shall be obtained for both new and replacement installations of all High Efficiency water closets, urinals, and dishwashers to confirm that the new installation or replacement is in accordance with the regulations of the City's Water Conservation Ordinance. In all commercial occupancies, a Qualified Installer, as defined in Section 94.219.0 shall perform the installation of any High Efficiency water fixture or appliance.
