Summary of Virginia'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.
On this page:
- Technical basis
- Applications of centralized non-potable reuse approved for use in Virginia
- 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 Virginia, 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 flushing, firefighting, commercial air conditioning and ship ballast water, 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
Virginia approves the use of reclaimed water for centralized non-potable reuse applications including, but not limited to, toilet flushing, fire protection, car washing, commercial laundries, soil compaction, dust control and street washing (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740). 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. The technical basis for the removal of pathogen and chemical contaminants is not explicitly specified.
Applications of centralized non-potable reuse approved for use in Virginia
9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740 defines the following approved centralized non-potable reuse applications:
- Toilet flushing, except in one-family or two-family dwellings (Level 1)
- Firefighting or protection and fire suppression, except in one-family or two-family dwellings (Level 1)
- Car washing
- Noncommercial car washing, except in one-family or two-family dwellings (Level 1)
- Commercial car washing (Level 1)
- Commercial air conditioning systems (Level 1)
- Commercial laundries (Level 1)
- Ship ballast water (Level 1)
- Soil compaction and dust control (Level 2)
- Washing aggregate (Level 2)
- Making concrete (Level 2)
- Street washing (Level 2)
Water reuse category/type
The various classes of reclaimed water treatment are defined by their respective treatment requirements and applicable performance standards. The respective treatment requirements are briefly summarized for centralized non-potable reuse applications:
- For Level 1 reclaimed water, the treatment requirements are secondary treatment with filtration to achieve the bacterial standards outlined in the table.
- For Level 2 reclaimed water, the treatment requirements are secondary treatment to achieve the bacterial standards outlined in the table.
Additional context and definitions
Virginia defines reclaimed water as “water resulting from the treatment of domestic, municipal or industrial wastewater that is suitable for a water reuse that would not otherwise occur.” (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740).
Virginia does not allow direct cross-connections between the municipal reclaimed water distribution system and a potable water supply system (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740). Separation distances of 50 feet must be maintained between in-ground reclaimed water distribution pipelines and a public or private potable supply well or spring; at least 10 feet must be maintained from a water main; and for distribution pipelines that convey Level 1 reclaimed water, at least two feet of distance from the sewer line must be maintained. Any above ground portions of the reclaimed water distribution system must differ materially (i.e., painted purple) from those used on the potable water supply and any below-ground portions should also be labelled as part of the reclaimed water distribution system (i.e., painted purple, labelled).
Centralized non-potable reuse specifications
Summary of Virginia's 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)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Level 1 (toilet flushing, fire protection, car washing, commercial air conditioning systems, commercial laundries, ship ballast water) |
Municipal wastewater |
Fecal coliforma |
≤14 colonies/100 mL (monthly geometric mean) >49 colonies/100 mL (corrective action threshold) |
Measured after all reclaimed water treatment and prior to discharge to a reclaimed water distribution system between 10 am and 4 pm. The sampling frequency depends on the reclamation system designated design flow: >0.500 MGD= Daily (reduction to 4 days/week allowed) 0.050–0.500 MGD= 4 days/week (reduction to 3 days/week allowed) <0.050= 3 days/week (no reduction allowed) |
|
E. colia |
≤11 colonies/100 mL (monthly geometric mean) >35 colonies/100 mL (corrective action threshold) |
|||
|
Enterococcia |
≤11 colonies/100 mL (monthly geometric mean) >24 colonies/100 mL (corrective action threshold) |
|||
|
pH |
6.0–9.0 |
Daily grab samples at the POC |
||
|
5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) or 5-day carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD5) |
≤10 mg/L (monthly average BOD5) or ≤8 mg/L (monthly average CBOD5) |
At least weekly sampling at the POC or more frequently based on designated design flow of the reclamation system; Sampling type and frequency should be the same as specified for sewage treatment works in the Sewage Collection and Treatment Regulations (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-790) |
||
|
Total residual chlorineb |
<1.0 mg/L (corrective action threshold) |
Continuous online monitoring at the end of the contact tank or contact period. Minimum contact time is 30 minutes at average flow or 20 minutes at peak flow |
||
|
Turbidityc |
≤2 NTU (daily average) >5 NTU (corrective action threshold) |
Continuous online monitoring just upstream of disinfection |
||
|
Level 2 (soil compaction, dust control, washing aggregate, making concrete, street washing) |
Municipal wastewater |
Fecal coliforma |
≤200 colonies/100 mL (monthly geometric mean) >800 colonies/100 mL (corrective action threshold) |
Measured after all reclaimed water treatment and prior to discharge to a reclaimed water distribution system. The sampling is based on the reclamation system designated design flow and must be the same sampling type and frequency as specified for sewage treatment works in the Sewage Collection and Treatment Regulations (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-790). |
|
E. colia |
≤126 colonies/100 mL (monthly geometric mean) >235 colonies/100 mL (corrective action threshold) |
|||
|
Enterococcia |
≤35 colonies/100 mL (monthly geometric mean) >104 colonies/100 mL (corrective action threshold) |
|||
|
pH |
6.0–9.0 |
Daily grab samples at the POC |
||
|
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) or 5-day carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD5) |
≤30 mg/L (monthly average BOD5) ≤45 mg/L (weekly average BOD5) or ≤25 mg/L (monthly average CBOD5) ≤40 mg/L (weekly average CBOD5) |
At least weekly sampling or more frequently based on reclamation system designated design flow and must be the same sampling type and frequency as specified for sewage treatment works in the Sewage Collection and Treatment Regulations (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-790); sampling to occur at the POC |
||
|
Total suspended solids (TSS) |
≤30 mg/L (monthly average) ≤45 mg/L (weekly average) |
|||
|
Total residual chlorineb |
<1.0 mg/L (corrective action threshold) |
Minimum contact time is 30 minutes at average flow or 20 minutes at peak flow. Sampling should be based on the reclamation system designated design flow and the same type and frequency as specified for sewage treatment works in the Sewage Collection and Treatment Regulations (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-790). |
Source = 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740
MGD= million gallons per day; POC= point of compliance. In Virginia, the POC is after all reclaimed water treatment and prior to discharge to a reclaimed water distribution system for most standards, with the exception of turbidity. The POC for turbidity is just upstream of disinfection.
* 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 Must meet bacterial standards for either fecal coliform, E. coli or enterococci. All three are not required.
b Only applies if chlorine was used for disinfection.
c If UV radiation is used for disinfection of Level 1 reclaimed water, other turbidity standards may apply.
Upcoming state law or policy
No upcoming regulations pertaining to centralized non-potable reuse were found for Virginia.
References:
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.
Control Board Generally, Va. Admin. Code § 62.1-44.15 (2024).
Water Reclamation and Reuse Regulation, 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740.
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.