Summary of Maryland's Water Reuse Guideline or Regulation for Landscaping

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 landscaping approved for use in Maryland
• Water reuse treatment category for landscaping
• Additional context and definitions
• Water reuse for landscaping 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. 

Technical basis

Maryland approves the reuse of reclaimed water for landscape irrigation in areas with restricted access and applicable buffer zones as well as in non-residential and residential areas and for landscape impoundments, among others permitted on a case-by-case basis depending on the potential for human contact (Maryland DEM, 2010; Maryland DEM, 2020). Landscape impoundments include a body of water that contains reclaimed water not intended for public contact and that is used primarily for aesthetic enjoyment (Maryland DEM, 2020). 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 for water reuse for landscaping and are summarized in the table. The technical basis for the derivation of pathogen indicator (fecal coliforms) and chemical contaminant removals for Class I, Class II and Class III reclaimed water were taken from Guidelines for Land Application/Reuse of Treated Municipal Wastewaters (MDE-WMA-001-04/10). The technical basis for the derivation of pathogen indicator (fecal coliforms) and chemical contaminant removals for Class IV reclaimed water were taken from Guidelines for Use of Class IV Reclaimed Water: High Potential for Human Contact (Maryland DEM, 2020).

Water reuse for landscaping approved for use in Maryland

Maryland DEM (2020) defines the following approved water reuse for landscaping:

• Irrigation of golf courses with restricted access and applicable buffer zone (Class I)
• Non-residential irrigation, including the irrigation of cemeteries, highway landscaping, lawns, parks, golf courses, playgrounds, school yards and other green open spaces (Class III)
• Residential outdoor irrigation of lawns and non-edible vegetation (Class IV)
• Water for landscape impoundments including but not limited to decorative pools, fountains, ponds, and lagoons (Class IV)

Water reuse treatment category for landscaping

The treatment requirements for land application and storage (as impoundments) of municipal wastewater for water reuse for landscaping are briefly summarized: 

• Class I, which has a moderate effluent quality, is likely achievable by a lagoon or secondary biological treatment systems. Irrigation with Class I effluent requires a larger buffer zone than Class II, Class III and Class IV which have higher effluent qualities (Maryland DEM, 2010; 2020). 
• Class III effluent must undergo treatment to meet the requirements provided in the table.
• Class IV effluent must undergo disinfection and monitoring of residual chlorine is required. If chlorine is used for disinfection, residual chlorine must be monitored at the locations associated with the point(s) of use at the frequencies specified in the approved Reclaimed Water Management Plan (Maryland DEM, 2020). If ozone, UV, or another non-chlorine approach is used for disinfection, continuous on-line monitoring with automated data logging or recording at the point of application must be employed. Supplemental disinfection using chlorine must be applied to ensure that measurable residual chlorine is present to prevent pathogen re-growth in the reclaimed water distribution system (Maryland DEM, 2020).

Additional context and definitions

Maryland defines “restricted access” as limited access by humans to areas where any water (including reclaimed water not meeting the definition of potable water) is used, resulting in minimal or no potential for human contact. Site accessibility is limited to authorized operators and personnel (Maryland DEM, 2020). Maryland requires a State Groundwater Discharge Permit/General Permit for irrigation with Classes I, II and III effluent (Maryland DEM, 2010).

Irrigation with Class I effluent requires a larger buffer zone than Class III which has a higher effluent quality (Maryland DEM, 2010). For irrigation with Class I effluent, a minimum buffer zone of 200 feet shall be provided between the wetted perimeter of spray irrigation areas and property lines, waterways, roads, etc. For residential properties, parks and other areas where people congregate, a 500-foot buffer between the wetted perimeter and structures on these. For irrigation with Class II effluent, there must be a minimum buffer zone of 25 feet from property lines, housing structures, public roads and streams, 50 feet from schools and playgrounds and 100 feet to potable wells (Maryland DEM, 2010). For irrigation with Class III effluent, there must be a minimum buffer zone of 100 feet provided between the wetted perimeter of the irrigation areas and outdoor licensed public eating, drinking and bathing facilities (Maryland DEM, 2010). 

Prior to using the water reclamation/distribution system, sampling results from Class IV reclaimed water monitoring can be submitted to the Maryland Department of the Environment at the discretion of the facility owner/operator. Sampling results might include but are not limited to results for inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals, radionuclides, and Cryptosporidium in accordance with National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141, Subpart C) under the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq. [1974]). There are two points of compliance for water quality treatment standards. One point of compliance is at the outlet of the treatment system prior to entering the distribution system and the second point of compliance is at an accessible location near the point of use. The second point of compliance is only required if the end use is any of the following and if there is a potential for public access to the reuse facilities at times when reclaimed water is being used for aesthetic fountains, ponds or lagoons; lawns and nonedible vegetation (Residential Outdoor Irrigation); cemeteries; golf courses; lawns; parks; playgrounds; school yards; and other green open spaces (Non-Residential Irrigation) (Maryland DEM, 2020). Facility owners or operators are not required to supply sampling results for non-human contact uses if there is little to no opportunity for direct ingestion near the point of use, although a facility owner or operator is free to do so at its discretion (Maryland DEM, 2020).

In areas where a pipeline has been converted to carry and distribute reclaimed water, a description of the markings, signage, labeling or color coding that will be used to identify the converted pipeline as a reclaimed water distribution pipeline and a description of cleaning and disinfection procedures that will be undertaken prior to using the converted pipeline for reclaimed water distribution are required (Maryland DEM 2020). All reclaimed water piping should be purple in color and state "CAUTION: RECLAIMED WATER - DO NOT DRINK" (Maryland DEM, 2020). Permit applications should also provide reasonable assurance that cross-connections will not occur, public health will be protected and the integrity of all potable water, wastewater and reclaimed water systems will be maintained after the pipeline is converted (Maryland DEM, 2020). Advisory signs or placards must be posted within and at the boundaries of any reuse area(s) which state the nature of the reuse (Maryland DEM, 2020). Specifically, advisory signs must be posted adjacent to all impoundments used for non-system storage of reclaimed water, including landscape impoundments, and posted at entrances to a residential neighborhood where reclaimed water is used for landscape irrigation (Maryland DEM, 2020). Additional design criteria and storage requirements for Class IV reclaimed water distribution systems are provided in Maryland DEM (2020).

Water reuse for landscaping specifications

Summary of Maryland's Water Reuse for Landscaping Specifications

Source= Maryland DEM (2010, 2020)

* 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 Higher levels of treatment and disinfection may be required under certain conditions such as a land application site located in a well head protection area with a significant amount of rock fragments in the soil.

^bDetermined using approved laboratory methods specified in 40 CFR Part 136, or the latest edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (APHA et al, 2012).

Upcoming state law or policy

No upcoming regulations pertaining to water reuse for landscaping were found for Maryland.

References

American Public Health Association (APHA), American Water Works Association (AWWA), and Water Environment Federation (WEF). 2012. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.

Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.

Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), 124 Stat. 3885.

Maryland Department of Environmental Management (DEM). 2010. Guidelines for Land Application/Reuse of Treated Municipal Wastewaters (MDE-WMA-001-04/10).

Maryland DEM. 2020. Guidelines for Use of Class IV Reclaimed Water: High Potential for Human Contact.

Disclaimers

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.