Summary of Massachusetts' Water Reuse Guideline or Regulation for Centralized Non-potable Reuse
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
- Applications of centralized non-potable reuse approved for use in Massachusetts
- Water reuse category/type
- Additional context and definitions
- Centralized non-potable reuse 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 Massachusetts, centralized non-potable reuse The use of recycled water for centralized non-potable reuse where the water does not derive from the same site where it is to be reused. Can include, but is not limited to, toilet flushing, dust control, soil compaction, fire protection, commercial laundries, vehicle washing, street cleaning, snowmaking, and other similar uses. Excludes on-site non-potable water reuse and the use of recycled water for agriculture or landscaping. applications include toilet and urinal flushing, commercial laundries and commercial air conditioning, among others. 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. The 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
Massachusetts approves the reuse of reclaimed wastewater for commercial and non-potable application including, but not limited to, toilet flushing, snowmaking, fire protection, car washes, commercial laundries, dust control and street cleaning (314 Mass. Code Regs. 20.00). 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 state water quality standards. Treatment requirements and performance standards are applied for the removal of pathogen and chemical contaminants for centralized non-potable reuse applications for Class A and Class B reclaimed water. The technical basis for the removal of pathogen and chemical contaminant removals is not explicitly specified.
Applications of centralized non-potable reuse approved for use in Massachusetts
314 Mass. Code Regs. 20.00 defines the following approved centralized non-potable uses:
- Toilet and urinal flushing (Class A)
- Commercial laundries and car washes (Class A)
- Snowmaking (Class A)
- Fire protection (Class A)
- Commercial cooling or air conditioning
- Where aerosols or mist are created (Class A)
- Where aerosols or mist are not created (Class B)
- Dust control and soil compaction (Class B)
- Mixing concrete and washing aggregate (Class B)
- Street cleaning (Class B)
Water reuse category/type
The various classes of treatment for reclaimed wastewater are defined by their applicable performance standards:
- For Class A reclaimed water, the reclaimed water must meet or exceed the Class A effluent limits defined in the table.
- For Class B reclaimed water, the reclaimed water must meet or exceed the Class B effluent limits defined in the table.
Additional context and definitions
Massachusetts defines reclaimed water as “wastewater that has been treated so that it is suitable for beneficial reuse in accordance with 314 CMR 20.00” (314 Mass. Code Regs. 20.00).
Massachusetts requires that all municipal reclaimed water plumbing and out-of-sight fixtures are colored purple and marked or stamped with the following warning every three feet or less: “NOTICE: RECLAIMED WATER – DO NOT DRINK” (314 Mass. Code Regs. 20.00). All areas at a reuse site that are accessible to the public, like reclaimed water valves, storage facilities and outlets, must have visible purple-colored public signs stating “NOTICE: RECLAIMED WATER – DO NOT DRINK” in English and any additional “locally employed language”. No cross connections are allowed between a reclaimed water system, a potable water system and all pipes conveying water for drinking, domestic and culinary purposes.
Centralized non-potable reuse specifications
Summary of Massachusetts' Centralized Non-potable Reuse Specifications
| Recycled Water Class/Category | Source Water Type | Water Quality Parameter | Specification | Sampling/Monitoring Requirements (Frequency of monitoring; site/ location of sample; quantification methods)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Class A (toilet and urinal flushing, commercial laundries and car washes, snowmaking, fire protection, commercial cooling or air conditioning where mist is created) |
Municipal wastewater |
pH |
6.5–8.5 |
Point of compliance is after the final treatment process and prior to the point of reuse |
|
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) |
<10 mg/L |
|||
|
Total suspended solids (TSS) |
<5 mg/L |
|||
|
Turbidity |
<2 NTU (24-hour average) 5 NTU (cannot exceed more than 5% of time for 24-hour period) 10 NTU (cannot exceed at any time) |
|||
|
Total nitrogen |
<10 mg/L |
|||
|
Fecal coliform |
No detectable fecal coliform/100 mL (over continuous 7-day sampling period) ≤14/100 mL (single sample maximum) |
|||
|
Class B (commercial cooling or air conditioning where mist is not created, dust control, soil compaction, mixing concrete, washing aggregate, street cleaning) |
Municipal wastewater |
pH |
6.5–8.5 |
Point of compliance is after the final treatment process and prior to the point of discharge |
|
5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) |
<30 mg/L |
|||
|
Total suspended solids (TSS) |
<10 mg/L |
|||
|
Total nitrogen |
<10 mg/L |
|||
|
Fecal coliform |
≤14 coliform/100 mL (median over continuous 7-day sampling period) ≤100/100 mL (single sample maximum) |
Source = 314 Mass. Code Regs. 20.00
* 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.
Upcoming state law or policy
No upcoming regulations pertaining to centralized non-potable reuse were found for Massachusetts.
References:
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.
Reclaimed Water Permit Program and Standards, 314 Mass. Code Regs. 20.00.
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.