There is a lot of non-functional turf at the Manteca Civic Center.

Why that matters is wording in a State of California mandate that prohibits the use of potable water to irrigate nonfunctional turf with examples listed as:

*Mowed grass located within street rights-of-way and parking lots.

*Mowed grass enclosed by fencing or other barriers to permanently keep people out.

*Mowed grass bordering signs, buildings, or sidewalks.

The issue — may or may not be addressed — at Tuesday’s council meeting when elected officials are being asked to approve changes to the city’s unlawful water use ordinance to comply with California Water Resources Control Board requirements.

The amendment the council is being asked to adopt in order to comply with state law prohibits using potable water to irrigate non-functional turf, which is defined as turf located within street rights-of-way and parking lots, is prohibited on commercial, industrial, and institutional properties, other than a cemetery, and on properties of homeowners’ associations, common interest developments, and community service organizations or similar entities as of the following dates:

* All properties owned by local governmental, local and regional public agencies beginning January 1, 2027.

*All other institutional properties and all commercial and industrial properties beginning January 1, 2028.

*All common areas of properties of homeowners’ associations, common interest developments and community service organizations or similar entities beginning January 1, 2029.

The use of potable water in such areas can still be used to the extent necessary to ensure the health of trees and other perennial non-turf plantings.

The prohibition is the outgrowth of Assembly Bill 1572 adopted in 2023.

A staff report with Tuesday’s agenda item indicates the city has been working for several years to replace turf within streetscapes and right-of-ways.

It also noted turf is no longer installed in new streetscapes.

The Utilities Department’s Water Conservation Staff have been focusing on education and outreach regarding these new regulations.

The report notes the current focus is on commercial and industrial customers with a Jan. 1, 2028, compliance date. Following these efforts, the focus will shift to homeowner associations.

The report makes no reference to the Civic Center parking lot on Center Street that includes a large turf area that is being irrigated with potable water and mowed. The area has one large evergreen tree.

The wording on the state water control board website website seems to infer the prohibition also may apply to at least the mowed grass between the sidewalk and parking lot in front of the Manteca Civic Center as well.

Functional turf, in contrast, includes mowed grass used for recreational activities such as community gatherings, formal sports games, or informal recreation in a park or other green area.

As such grass areas at the civic center dog and courtyard may meet the litmus test to legally use portable water while the grassy area on the southeast corner of Eucalyptus Street and Magnolia Avenue may not.

The city’s outreach includes the general information about AB 1572 and the Lawn to Garden program where the City of Manteca will pay $1 per square foot of turf replacement, up to $5,000 for commercial customers and $650 for residential customers.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com