California Drinking Water-Related Laws

Last Update:  June 19, 2013

DISCLAIMER: These documents are meant to aid staff of CDPH's Drinking Water Program and are not to be relied upon as the State of California's representation of the law.  The published codes [e.g., Health & Safety Code or Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR)]  are the only official representation of the law. Always refer to the published codes whenever specific citations are required.  

Drinking Water-Related Statutes and Regulations

These compilations of drinking water-related laws were once referred to by staff and the regulated community as "The Blue Book."  

Drinking water-related statutes are from the Corporations Code, Education Code, Food and Agricultural Code, Government Code, Health and Safety Code, Public Resources Code, and Water Code.  Regulations are from Title 17 and Title 22 of the CCR.

• Drinking Water-Related Statutes (PDF, 1.4MB) ...(Word, 1.6MB) - 293 pages, includes changes effective January 1, 2012. 
• Drinking Water-Related Regulations (PDF, 2.9MB)...(Word, 2.6MB) - 339 pages, includes changes effective July 1, 2013. 
  

Recycled Water-Related Statutes and Regulations

These compilations of recycled water-related laws were once referred to by staff and the regulated community as "The Purple Book." 

NOTE: The statutes are those pertinent to the activities of CDPH.  There are also recycled water-related statutes related to the activities of other state agencies (e.g., see the State Water Resources Control Board's water recycling laws). 

• Recycled Water-Related Statutes (PDF) ...(Word) - 66 pages, includes changes effective January 1, 2011.
• Recycled Water-Related Regulations (PDF)...(Word) - 33 pages, last updated January 1, 2009.