Recycled water uses, california

Recycled Water Use Allowed In California1
Treatment Level
Irrigation
Disinfected
Tertiary
Recycled
Water
Disinfected
Secondary-2.2
Recycled Water
Disinfected
Secondary-23
Recycled Water
Undisinfected
Secondary Recycled
Water
Food crops where recycled water contacts the
edible portion of the crop, including all root
crops
Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Parks and playgrounds Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
School yards Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Residential landscaping Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Unrestricted access golf courses Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Any other irrigation uses not prohibited by
other provisions of the California Code of
Regulations
Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Food crops where edible portion is produced
above ground and not contacted by recycled
water
Allowed Allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Cemeteries Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Freeway landscaping Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Restricted access golf courses Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Ornamental nursery stock and sod farms Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Pasture for milk animals Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Nonedible vegetation with access control to
prevent use as a park, playground or school
yard
Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Orchards with no contact between edible
portion and recycled water
Allowed Allowed Allowed Allowed
Vineyards with no contact between edible
portion and recycled water
Allowed Allowed Allowed Allowed
Non food-bearing trees, including Christmas
trees not irrigated less than 14 days before
harvest
Allowed Allowed Allowed Allowed
Fodder crops (e.g. alfalfa) and fiber crops (e.g.
cotton)
Allowed Allowed Allowed Allowed
Seed crops not eaten by humans Allowed Allowed Allowed Allowed
Food crops that undergo commercial pathogendestroying
processing before consumption by
humans
Allowed Allowed Allowed Allowed
Ornamental nursery stock, sod farms not
irrigated less than 14 days before harvest
Allowed Allowed Allowed Allowed
Supply for Impoundment
Disinfected
Tertiary
Recycled
Water
Disinfected
Secondary-2.2
Recycled Water
Disinfected
Secondary-23
Recycled Water
Undisinfected
Secondary Recycled
Water
Non-restricted recreational impoundments, with
supplemental monitoring for pathogenic
organisms
Allowed2 Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Restricted recreational impoundments and
publicly accessible fish hatcheries
Allowed Allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Landscape impoundments without decorative
fountains
Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Supply for cooling or air
conditioning
Disinfected
Tertiary
Recycled
Water
Disinfected
Secondary-2.2
Recycled Water
Disinfected
Secondary-23
Recycled Water
Undisinfected
Secondary Recycled
Water
Industrial or commercial cooling or air
conditioning involving cooling tower,
evaporative condenser, or spraying that creates
a mist
Allowed3 Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Industrial or commercial cooling or air
conditioning not involving cooling tower,
evaporative condenser, or spraying that creates
a mist
Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Other Uses
Disinfected
Tertiary
Recycled
Water
Disinfected
Secondary-2.2
Recycled Water
Disinfected
Secondary-23
Recycled Water
Undisinfected
Secondary Recycled
Water
Groundwater recharge Allowed under special case by case permits by RWQCBs4
Flushing toilets and urinals Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Priming drain traps Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Industrial process water that may contact
workers
Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Structural fire fighting Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Decorative fountains Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Commercial laundries Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Consolidation of backfill material around
potable water pipelines
Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Artificial snow making for commercial outdoor
uses
Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Commercial car washes not done by hand &
excluding the general public from washing
process
Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Industrial process water that will not come into
contact with workers
Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Industrial boiler feed Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Nonstructural fire fighting Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Backfill consolidation around nonpotable piping Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Soil compaction Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Mixing concrete Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Dust control on roads and streets Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Cleaning roads, sidewalks and outdoor work
areas
Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Flushing sanitary sewers Allowed Allowed Allowed Allowed
Note:
1) Source: This chart is an informal summary of the uses allowed based on the California Department of Health Services Title 22, Article 4 Code of Regulations’ June
2001 version.
2) With “conventional tertiary treatment.” Additional monitoring for two years or more is necessary with direct filtration
3) Drift eliminators and/or biocides are required if public or employees can be exposed to mist.
4) Refer to Groundwater Recharge Guidelines