Summary of Nevada's 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.

• Technical basis
• Applications of centralized non-potable reuse approved for use in Nevada
• Water reuse category/type
• Additional context and definitions
• Centralized non-potable reuse specifications (table)
• Upcoming state law or policy
• References
• Disclaimer

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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 Nevada, centralized non-potable reuse 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 commercial toilet and urinal flushing, snowmaking, commercial window washing and firefighting, among others. The source of water (treated municipal wastewater) 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

Nevada approves the use of reclaimed water for centralized non-potable reuse applications including, but not limited to, commercial toilet and urinal flushing, snowmaking, outdoor decorative water features, firefighting and dust control (Nev. Admin. Code § 445A). 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. All categories of reclaimed water must receive secondary treatment and meet specific pH, TSS and BOD requirements. The reuse categories differ by their non-potable reuse applications and their pathogen removal requirements. The technical basis for the removal of pathogen and chemical contaminant is not explicitly specified.

Applications of centralized non-potable reuse approved for use in Nevada

Nev. Admin. Code § 445A defines the following approved centralized non-potable reuse applications:

• Commercial toilet and urinal flushing (Reuse Category A)
• Snowmaking and outdoor decorative water features (Reuse Category A)
• Commercial window washing and pressure cleaning that occurs outdoors (Reuse Category A)
• Street sweeping (Reuse Category B)
• Firefighting operations in an urban area (Reuse Category B) 
• Firefighting of forest or other wildfires (Reuse Category C)
• Dust control and soil compaction (Reuse Category D)

Water reuse category/type

All reuse categories require, at minimum, secondary treatment that achieves a pH of 6–9, a TSS concentration of ≤30 mg/L and a BOD5 concentration of ≤30 mg/L. The reuse categories differ by their bacteriological quality requirements:

• Reuse Category A has a total coliform requirement of ≤2.2 CFU or MPN/100 mL (30-day average) and ≤23 CFU or MPN/100 mL (single sample maximum).
• Reuse Category B has a fecal coliform requirement of ≤2.2 CFU or MPN/100 mL (30-day average) and ≤23 CFU or MPN/100 mL (single sample maximum).
• Reuse Category C has a fecal coliform requirement of ≤23 CFU or MPN/100 mL (30-day average) and ≤240 CFU or MPN/100 mL (single sample maximum).
• Reuse Category D has a fecal coliform requirement of ≤240 CFU or MPN/100 mL (30-day average) and ≤400 CFU or MPN/100 mL (single sample maximum).

Additional context and definitions

In Nevada, reclaimed water is defined as “sewage that has been treated by a physical, biological, or chemical process, which is intended for a use defined in NAC 445A.276 to 445A.2771, inclusive, and that meets the corresponding water quality criteria for the specified use.” (Nev. Admin. Code § 445A).

Nevada requires signs to be posted along the outer perimeter of the area of municipal reclaimed water use that warn the public that reclaimed water is in use in the area and that contact with the reclaimed water should be avoided (Nev. Admin. Code § 445A). The pipe infrastructure conveying the reclaimed water must be identified by color marking or a metal tag and all reclaimed water outlets, like faucets and hose connections, must be identified at the point of use.

Centralized non-potable reuse specifications

Summary of Nevada's Centralized Non-potable Reuse Specifications

Source = Nev. Admin. Code § 445A 

^* 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 Nevada.

References:

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

Water Controls, Nev. Admin. Code § 445A.

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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.