Warewashing machines: water reuse.

Existing law, the California Retail Food Code, generally establishes health and sanitation standards for various types of retail food businesses, and requires the State Department of Public Health to regulate these businesses and local agencies to enforce these requirements. The code requires warewashing sinks that discharge liquid waste to be drained by means of indirect waste pipes and all wastes drained by the warewashing sink to discharge through an airgap into a floor sink or other approved type of receptor, with specified exceptions. A violation of any provision of the code is generally a misdemeanor. This bill would authorize water from a warewashing machine to be reused on the same warewashing machine, for pre-rinse purposes only, if an attendant is onsite to control the reuse of the water for pre-rinse purposes and a written disclosure notice is posted, as specified. By imposing conditions on the reuse of water from a warewashing machine, the violation of which would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.