Summary of Georgia'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 Georgia
- 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 Georgia, water reuse for water reuse for agricultureThe use of recycled water for production of both crops for human consumption and non-food crops of commercial value. This reuse application excludes consumption by livestock, onsite non-potable reuse, and landscaping. includes irrigation of crops not intended for direct human consumption (including feed crops). 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 domestic wastewater (or combination of domestic and industrial 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
Georgia approves the use of reclaimed water for agriculture, including the irrigation of crops not intended for direct human consumption. In Georgia, urban water reuse is expanded to include water reuse for agriculture (among other approved applications). 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). Georgia requires specific treatment for the reuse of reclaimed water and urban water for agriculture in areas where public access is expected. 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 Georgia
Georgia DNR (2012) defines the following approved water reuse for agriculture:
- Irrigation of crops not intended for direct human consumption, including feed crops (Reclaimed water - urban water reuse and other expanded uses)
Water reuse treatment category for agriculture
Georgia uses the following definitions of reclaimed water and urban water reuse:
- Reclaimed water: “domestic wastewater or a combination of domestic and industrial wastewater that has been treated to stringent effluent limitations so that the reclaimed water is suitable for use in areas of unrestricted public access” (Georgia DNR, 2012).
- Urban water reuse: “the use of reclaimed water as a substitute for other water sources for the beneficial irrigation of areas that may be accessible to the public. Expanded uses, beyond urban water reuse, may also include fire protection, aesthetic purposes (landscape impoundments and fountains), industrial uses and some agricultural irrigation” (Georgia DNR, 2012).
- Agricultural irrigation means the irrigation of crops not intended for direct human consumption (Georgia DNR, 2012).
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 regarding water reuse for agriculture:
- For reclaimed water intended for urban water reuse and other expanded uses, the treatment requirements are secondary treatment followed by filtration and disinfection or equivalent treatment. Equivalent treatment includes other process trains such as physical-chemical treatment followed by membrane filtration that “may provide equivalent results” (Georgia DNR, 2012).
Additional context and definitions
All municipal reclaimed water piping must be purple in color, identified with labels or signs as “Reclaimed Water,” and a three-foot minimum distance between reclaimed water piping and potable water piping must be maintained (Georgia DNR 2012). For municipal reclaimed water intended for urban water reuse and other expanded uses, all reclaimed water valves, fire hydrants and outlets must be colored purple and labelled to warn the public and employees that the water is not intended for drinking (Georgia DNR, 2012).
Water reuse for agriculture specifications
Summary of Georgia's Water Reuse for Agriculture Specifications
Recycled Water Class/Category | Source Water Type | Water Quality Parameter | Specification | Sampling/Monitoring Requirements (Frequency of monitoring; site/ location of sample; quantification methods)* |
---|---|---|---|---|
Reclaimed water - Urban water reuse (includes expanded uses related to agriculture) |
Domestic wastewater (or combination of domestic and industrial wastewater) |
5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) |
≤5 mg/L |
Weekly monitoring |
Total suspended solids (TSS) |
≤5 mg/L |
|||
Turbidity |
≤3 NTU |
Continuous monitoring |
||
Fecal coliform |
≤23 MPN/100 mL (monthly geometric mean) ≤46 MPN/100 mL (weekly geometric mean) 100 MPN/100 mL (single sample maximum) |
Daily monitoring |
||
pH |
6–9 |
|||
Disinfectant residual |
Detectable disinfectant residual at the delivery point is strongly recommended |
Monitoring for detectable disinfection residual includes such measures as measuring chlorine residual or the inspection, calibration and recording of UV output and transmittance at the delivery point |
||
Nitrogen |
Not specified |
Not specified |
||
Phosphorus |
Not specified |
Not specified |
Source= Georgia DNR (2012)
* 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 water reuse for agriculture were found for Georgia.
References
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.
Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), 124 Stat. 3885.
Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division (DNR). 2012. Guidelines for Water Reclamation and Urban Water Reuse.
Please contact us at [email protected] 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.