Town program will comply with state law prohibiting potable water irrigation of non-functional turf.
Residents may notice browning grass along major roadsides as the Town of Danville begins a program to comply with a new state law that limits the use of potable water for irrigation. In advance of the January 1, 2027 deadline, the Town has started converting turf along streets such as Camino Tassajara and El Capitan Drive into more water-efficient landscaping and ground covers.
The definition of non-functional turf is set by State Assembly Bill 1572, which limits use of potable water irrigation for commercial, industrial, and institutional water users. Examples of non-functional turf to be replaced include grass landscaping strips between sidewalks and streets. In contrast, functional turf includes areas such as parks, sports fields, and other recreational and community gathering spaces, and will not be affected. The 2027 compliance deadline for public properties will be followed by a 2028 deadline for commercial properties and a 2029 deadline for homeowner’s association property, such as private roadsides managed by the HOA. Private residential landscaping is not affected by this law.
The Town has developed a plan that includes a variety of approaches that are both cost-effective and compliant, based on the location of the non-functional turf. Areas with trees will still be able to be irrigated, such as the tree-lined walking path along Camino Tassajara. Non-functional turf will begin to brown as it dies off, which is more cost-effective than physical removal. Then each area will be re-planted with trees and plants, along with the addition of bark mulch or other ground covers depending on factors like the location and slope.
Monitoring and enforcement of this law is done through local watering agencies, handled in Danville by East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD), in addition to self certification with the State Water Resources Control Board. In devising this plan, the Town considered alternatives such as recycled water irrigation. However, EBMUD does not have available infrastructure for Danville to switch to recycled water and does not currently have a timeframe of when this may become available.
The program will roll out in phases, with the section of non-functional turf on Camino Tassajara between Tassajara Lane and Sherburne Hills Road first, followed by an adjacent site between Tassajara Lane and Hill Meadow Drive to follow. Work in these first two areas will include replanting the area between the sidewalk and street with plants such as rose bushes.
The full text of the law is available here. Additional information, including phased dates for other types of properties, is available at danville.ca.gov/turf. Community members can also use this webpage to provide feedback on the law directly to state legislators, and subscribe to updates about this and other legislation affecting Danville.