Summary of Georgia'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 Georgia
- 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 Georgia, 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 fire protection, decorative fountains and toilet and urinal flushing, 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 domestic wastewater (or a 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 centralized non-potable reuse applications including fire protection, decorative fountains, dust control and toilet and urinal flushing (Georgia DNR, 2011; 2012). 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 Georgia
Georgia DNR (2011) and Georgia DNR (2012) defines the following approved centralized non-potable reuse applications of centralized system-based reclaimed water:
- Fire protection, decorative fountains and dust control (Reclaimed water - urban water reuse and other expanded uses)
- Toilet and urinal flushing (Reclaimed water - Buildings)
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 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).
- For reclaimed water intended for use in toilet and urinal flushing, the treatment requirements are secondary treatment with coagulation and filtration (Georgia DNR, 2011).
Additional context and definitions
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. This includes areas such as golf courses, residential and commercial landscaping, parks, athletic fields, roadway medians, and landscape impoundments. 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 is discussed separately in the Agricultural Irrigation and other Applications Related to Agriculture end use summary.
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, 2011; 2012). All facilities utilizing reclaimed water for toilet and urinal flushing must have a sign visible to all users warning “TO CONSERVE WATER, THIS BUILDING USES RECLAIMED WATER TO FLUSH URINALS AND TOILETS” (Georgia DNR, 2011). Similar warning signs are also required for rooms containing reclaimed water equipment and valve access doors. Building owners, tenants and staff receiving reclaimed water must participate in a public information program given by the reclaimed water purveyor. 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).
Centralized non-potable reuse specifications
Summary of Georgia'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)* |
---|---|---|---|---|
Reclaimed water- Urban water reuse (fire protection, decorative fountains, dust control) |
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 |
||
Reclaimed water –Buildings (toilet and urinal flushing) |
Domestic wastewater (or combination of domestic and industrial wastewater) |
5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) |
≤5 mg/L |
Continuous monitoring |
Total suspended solids (TSS) |
≤5 mg/L |
|||
Turbidity |
3 NTU |
|||
Fecal coliform |
≤23 MPN/100 mL |
Source = Georgia DNR (2011; 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.
a Required if alternative treatment processes or alternative turbidity criteria are used, or reclaimed water is blended with other water to produce Class A+ or Class A reclaimed water.
Upcoming state law or policy
No upcoming regulations pertaining to centralized non-potable reuse were found for Georgia.
References:
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.
Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). 2011. Guidelines for Reclaimed Water Systems for Buildings.
Georgia Department of Natural Resources (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.