Summary of Alabama's Water Reuse Guideline or Regulation for Agriculture
This page is part of the EPA’s REUSExplorer tool, which summarizes the different state level regulations or guidelines for water reuse for a variety of sources and end-uses.
The source water for this summary is Treated Municipal Wastewater.
On this page:
- Technical basis
- Water reuse for agriculture approved for use in Alabama
- Water reuse treatment category for agriculture
- Additional context and definitions
- Water reuse for agriculture specifications (table)
- Upcoming state law or policy
- References
- Disclaimer
This page is a summary of the state’s water reuse law or policy and is provided for informational purposes only. Please always refer to the state for the most accurate and updated information.
In Alabama, water reuse for water reuse for agricultureThe use of recycled water to land to assist in the production of both commercially and non-commercially processed food crops consumed by humans or livestock and non-food crops. Includes pasture for milking and non-milking animals, fodder, fiber, and seed crops, vineyards, orchards, ornamental nursery stock, Christmas trees, and silviculture. Excludes consumption by livestock, onsite non-potable reuse, and landscaping. includes land application on fodder, fiber crops, ornamental nursery stock, sod and seed crops not intended for human ingestion and land application on pasture animals not producing milk for human consumption. The source of water treated municipal wastewater Treated wastewater effluent discharged from a centralized wastewater treatment plant of any size. Other terms referring to this source of water include domestic wastewater, treated wastewater effluent, reclaimed water, and treated sewage. is specified by the state as municipal wastewater. This write-up uses state terms when discussing sources or uses of water that may differ from the Regulations and End-Use Specifications Explorer's (REUSExplorer's) terms.
Technical basis
Alabama approves the use of reclaimed wastewater for non-consumable agricultural irrigation (i.e., the irrigation of crops not intended for direct human consumption). All applicable provisions of the Clean Water Act (CWA) (33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.), including its implementing regulations, must be met in addition to any relevant rule requirements under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) (124 Stat. 3885). Treatment requirements and performance standards are applied for the removal of microbial contaminants, chemicals and other relevant indicators related to agriculture and are summarized in the table. The technical basis for developing the specifications and/or removals of microbial contaminants, chemicals and other relevant indicators is not explicitly specified.
Water reuse for agriculture approved for use in Alabama
Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-6-20-.10 defines the following approved water reuse for agriculture:
- Land application on fodder, fiber crops, ornamental nursery stock, sod and seed crops not intended for human ingestion (Class B)
- Land application on pasture for animals not producing milk for human consumption (Class B)
Water reuse treatment category for agriculture
In Alabama, reclaimed water is defined as “wastewater that has received treatment which meets the criteria specified in this chapter” by the Department of Environmental Management (Ala. Administrative Code r. 335-6-20). The class A and class B requirements apply to the reuse of reclaimed water for the irrigation of agricultural products that are non-consumable.
The various classes of reclaimed water treatment are defined by their respective treatment requirements and applicable performance standards. The respective requirements are briefly summarized regarding water reuse for agriculture.
- For Class B reclaimed water, the treatment requirements are secondary treatment with, at a minimum, disinfection. Chlorine is the preferred primary disinfectant, but other acceptable primary disinfectants include chlorine dioxide, UV light, ozone or an equivalent process acceptable to the Department of Environmental Management. Facilities utilizing a disinfectant other than chlorine must add a disinfectant to maintain residuals in the distribution system such that the minimum chlorine requirements are met.
Additional context and definitions
Alabama requires the use of signage to notify the public and personnel in the general area where reclaimed water is being reused. Those permitted to use reclaimed water for reuse are required to post signs stating “Caution: Reclaimed Water - Do Not Drink” or equivalent signage, in English and Spanish (or other language based on local dialect) (Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-6-20.13). All new or replaced buried pipe conveying reclaimed water, including service lines, valves and other appurtenances, must be purple. With a consistent color (e.g., Pantone 512, 522 or equivalent) used throughout the system to ensure the pipes are adequately identifiable and distinguishable. Non-purple pipe purchased or under contract prior to the promulgation of Alabama’s reclaimed water reuse program regulations must have identification tape or locating wire along the pipe (Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-6-20.13).
Alabama requires the establishment of buffer distances from reclaimed water pipelines and spray irrigation systems to protect public health and waters of the state (Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-6-20-.14). Alabama defines the minimum distance of Class A reclaimed water to a property boundary be zero feet, with aerosol formation minimized to fifty feet (Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-6-20-.14).
Water reuse for agriculture specifications
Summary of Alabama's Water Reuse for Agriculture Specifications
| Recycled Water Class/Category (Approved Uses) | Source Water Type | Water Quality Parameter | Specification | Sampling/Monitoring Requirements (Frequency of monitoring; site/ location of sample; quantification methods)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Class B reclaimed water (crops not intended for human ingestion, pasture for animals not producing milk for human consumption) |
Municipal wastewater |
Chlorine |
≥1.0 mg/L entering distribution system ≥0.5 mg/L chlorine residual in the distribution system prior to transfer to storage ponds and/or distribution to customers |
Total residual chlorine monitored daily after chlorination and upon entry to the distribution system. Monitoring in the distribution system conducted monthly unless an alternate frequency is approved or required by the Department of Environmental Management. Monitoring should occur at locations throughout the distribution system. |
|
E. coli |
≤18 organisms/100 mL (median from last 7 days of results) ≤34 organisms/100 mL (single sample maximum) |
Daily (unless an alternate frequency has been approved by the Department of Environmental Management) |
||
|
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) |
≤30 (30-day average) |
Weekly (using composite samples); frequency of sampling may be increased if deemed necessary by the Department of Environmental Management |
||
|
Nitrate + nitrites |
≤10 mg/L (30-day average) |
Weekly (using composite samples); Frequency of sampling may be increased if deemed necessary by the Department of Environmental Management |
||
|
pH |
≥6.0 ≤8.5 |
Daily as grab samples or continuous monitoring |
||
|
5-day carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD5)a |
≤10 mg/L (30-day average) |
Weekly (using composite samples); frequency of sampling may be increased if deemed necessary by the Department of Environmental Management |
||
|
Total nitrogen |
Not specified |
Monitored weekly using composite samples |
||
|
Total phosphorus |
Not specified |
Monitored weekly using composite samples |
Source= Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-6-20
* Information about sampling and monitoring requirements such as frequency, site and quantification methods not specifically listed in the table was not explicitly specified in the State-specific regulations.
a Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand that has been run for 5 days
Upcoming state law or policy
No upcoming regulations pertaining to water reuse for agriculture were found for Alabama.
References
Access, Exposure, and Signage, Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-6-20.13.
Buffer Distances, Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-6-20-.14.
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.
Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), 124 Stat. 3885.
Municipal Reclaimed Water Reuses, Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-6-20-.10.
Reclaimed Water Reuse Program, Ala. Administrative Code r. 335-6-20.
Please contact us at waterreuse@epa.gov if the information on this page needs updating or if this state is updating or planning to update its laws and policies and we have not included that information on the news page.