Members of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) are reminding homeowners who plan to obtain a permit to remodel their property this spring of a law that went into effect at the beginning of this year calling for the replacement of older plumbing fixtures with water-efficient fixtures.
As of January 1, 2014, when improving a property that was built prior to 1994, property owners are required to install new water-conserving toilets, showerheads, faucets and urinals before the local building department can issue a certificate of final completion and occupancy. This applies to all single-family property permits, as well as multifamily and commercial property permits, where 10 percent or more of the square footage is included in the remodel.
According to the law, the plumbing fixtures that will need to be replaced are any toilet manufactured to use more than 1.6 gallons per flush; 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 and any urinal manufactured to use more than one gallon of water per flush.
"This is a law that homeowners shouldn't worry too much about. The law only applies this year to permitted additions, alterations and improvements. Most homeowners who plan to remodel a kitchen or bathroom would consider these water-saving fixtures," said SILVAR President David Tonna.
Tonna added replacement of non-compliant plumbing fixtures with water-conserving fixtures is not a point of sale requirement. "There is nothing in the law that requires the installation of water-conserving fixtures as a condition of sale. The law does not apply to repairs or maintenance," explained Tonna.
Tonna said the law is not new. California Senate Bill 407 (Padilla) was passed by the legislature in 2009. Although this year the law only applies to homes which are undergoing improvements, Tonna said homeowners may want to consider installing the water-saving fixtures anyway because on or before January 1, 2017, the law requires that all noncompliant plumbing fixtures in any single-family residential real property shall be replaced by the property owner with water-conserving plumbing fixtures. On or before January 1, 2019, the law requires that all noncompliant plumbing fixtures in multifamily residential real property and commercial real property be replaced with water-conserving plumbing fixtures.
According to the California Association of REALTORS®, the legislature sees water conservation as 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.
"The drought we are currently experiencing has increased the public's awareness that we need to conserve on water. Not only do we see our water bills going up, but a lot of water is being wasted with inefficient water fixtures. Although retrofitting of all pre-1994 homes will not be mandated until 2017, making this change could save water and money for homeowners," said Tonna.
REALTORS® advise homeowners with questions about their individual fixtures to contact the manufacturers.
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.
The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.
For further information, please email or call the SILVAR office at (408) 200-0100.