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Article 12A Backflow
Article 12C Alternate Water
12C Rules and Regs (pdf)
Statutes (pdf)
Regulations (pdf)
Application Packet (pdf)
SFPUC Guidebook (pdf)
Engineering Report Instructions & Template (pdf)
Engineering Report Template (Word Template)
O&M Manual Template (Word Template)
O&M Manual Template (pdf version)
Backflow for SFHC 12C Systems (pdf)
The use of on-site alternate water sources such as rainwater harvesting for irrigation or blackwater treatment and reuse for toilet flushing is a critical component to management of our city's water portfolio.
Since 2012, the San Francisco Department of Public Health Environmental Health Branch (SFDPH-EH) has enforced Article 12C of the San Francisco Health Code to oversee the collection, treatment, and reuse of rainwater, stormwater, graywater and other alternate water sources for toilet flushing, irrigation and other non-potable uses in commercial, multi-family, mixed-use, and multi-parcel developments. In 2015, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors made these systems mandatory for certain buildings.
The permit process is a collaboration among SFDPH-EH, the SFPUC and the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection Plumbing Inspection Division (SFDBI - PID). Together these three agencies provide input and oversight on the design, construction, and operation of alternate water source systems. The permit process from project conceptualization to startup is summarized below. More details are described in the step-by-step guidebook available on the SFPUC website and SFDPH's Rules and Regulations for Alternate Water Source Systems (pdf).
A complete application packet contains forms and documents relevant to obtaining a permit for an Alternate Water Source system under Article 12C. Please contact dph.nonpotable@sfdph.org if you require any individual forms or documents found in the packet.
The permitting process includes:
Please refer to the Detailed Instructions for completing the Engineering Report, including sample tables for water quality design criteria.
For questions or additional assistance, please email DPH.NonPotable@sfdph.org.