Section 13142.5.
Cal. Water Code - WAT § 13142.5.
in effectIn addition to any other policies established pursuant to this division, the policies of the state with respect to water quality as it relates to the coastal marine environment are that:
(a)
Wastewater discharges shall be treated to protect present and future beneficial uses, and, where feasible, to restore past beneficial uses of the receiving waters. Highest priority shall be given to improving or eliminating discharges that adversely affect any of the following:
(1)
Wetlands, estuaries, and other biologically sensitive sites.
(2)
Areas important for water contact sports.
(3)
Areas that produce shellfish for human consumption.
(4)
Ocean areas subject to massive waste discharge.
Ocean chemistry and mixing processes, marine life conditions, other present or proposed outfalls in the vicinity, and relevant aspects of areawide waste treatment management plans and programs, but not of convenience to the discharger, shall for the purposes of this section, be considered in determining the effects of such discharges. Toxic and hard-to-treat substances should be pretreated at the source if such substances would be incompatible with effective and economical treatment in municipal
treatment plants.
(b)
For each new or expanded coastal powerplant or other industrial installation using seawater for cooling, heating, or industrial processing, the best available site, design, technology, and mitigation measures feasible shall be used to minimize the intake and mortality of all forms of marine life.
(c)
Where otherwise permitted, new warmed or cooled water discharges into coastal wetlands or into areas of special biological importance, including marine reserves and kelp beds, shall not significantly alter the overall ecological balance of the receiving area.
(d)
Independent baseline studies of the existing marine system should be conducted in the area that could be affected by a new or expanded industrial facility using seawater in advance of the carrying out of the development.
(e)
(1)
Adequately treated recycled water should, where feasible, be made available to supplement existing surface and underground supplies and to assist in meeting future water requirements of the coastal zone, and consideration, in statewide programs of financial assistance for water pollution or water quality control, shall be given to providing optimum water recycling and use of recycled water.
(2)
If recycled water is available for industrial use, any discharge to waters in the coastal zone, including the San Francisco Bay, after industrial use, may be authorized if all of the following conditions are met:
(A)
The discharge will not unreasonably affect beneficial uses.
(B)
The discharge is consistent with applicable water quality
control plans and state policy for water quality control.
(C)
The use of recycled water is consistent with Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 13500).
(D)
The discharge is consistent with all applicable requirements of Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 13370).
(E)
The discharge is to the same general receiving water location as that to which the wastewater would be discharged if not reused.
(3)
Any requirement imposed pursuant to Section 13263 or 13377 shall be adjusted to reflect a credit for waste present in the recycled water before reuse. The credit shall be limited to the difference between the amount of waste present in the nonrecycled water supply otherwise available to the industry and the amount of waste present in the recycled water.
(4)
If the amount of waste in the discharge exceeds prescribed requirements because the amount of waste in the recycled water is in excess of that agreed to be furnished by the supplier to the discharger, no enforcement action shall be taken against the discharger unless both of the following statements apply:
(A)
The supplier of the recycled water fails to correct the problem within 30 days after the cause of the problem is identified, or within any greater period of time agreed to by the appropriate regional board.
(B)
The discharger continues to receive the recycled water from the supplier.
(f)
This section shall not apply to industrial discharges into publicly owned treatment works.
References
referencesCal. Water Code - WAT § 13500.
referencesCal. Water Code - WAT § 13370.
referencesCal. Water Code - WAT § 13263.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026