Summary of Virginia's Water Reuse Guideline or Regulation for Landscaping

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 landscaping approved for use in Virginia
• Water reuse treatment category for landscaping
• Additional context and definitions
• Water reuse for landscaping 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 Virginia, water reuse for landscaping water reuse for landscapingThe use of recycled water on land to assist in the irrigation of vegetation in residential and non-residential areas. Includes impoundments to store water for irrigation , ornamental vegetation, parks, school yards, sporting facilities (including golf courses), private gardens, roadsides and greenbelts, and cemeteries. Excludes irrigation of areas used for agriculture, commercial reuse applications, or any centralized non-potable reuse. includes all types of landscape irrigation in public access areas and outdoor reuse. 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. This 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 landscaping, including landscape impoundments and all types of landscape irrigation and outdoor lawn watering (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. Treatment requirements and performance standards are applied for the removal of microbial contaminants, chemicals and other relevant indicators for water reuse for landscaping and are summarized in the table.

The fecal coliform specifications for Level 1 reclaimed water are derived from water quality standards for fecal coliforms established for shellfish propagation waters in Virginia on the basis that surface water quality standards considered safe for the propagation of shellfish for human consumption would also be considered safe for uses that have the potential for public contact (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-260-160). The E. coli and enterococci specifications for Level 1 reclaimed water are derived from those fecal coliform standards using conversion factors. The fecal coliform specifications for Level 2 reclaimed water are derived from effluent limitations set in Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permitted point source discharges to shellfish waters (Virginia DEQ, 2014). The E. coli and enterococci specifications for Level 2 reclaimed water are derived from the freshwater E. coli water quality standards and saltwater enterococci water quality standards, respectively, for other recreational waters (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-260-170). Specifications for microbial contaminants in Level 2 reclaimed water are derived in this manner on the basis that surface water quality standards and effluent limitations considered safe for recreational waters and/or protective of shellfish waters, are also safe for the below reuse applications that have a low potential for direct public contact. 

Water reuse for landscaping approved for use in Virginia

9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740 identifies the following approved water reuse for landscaping:

• All types of landscape irrigation in public access areas (i.e., golf courses, cemeteries, public parks, school yards and athletic fields) (Unrestricted Access with Level 1 reclaimed water)
• Outdoor reuse (i.e., lawn watering) (Unrestricted Access with Level 1 reclaimed water)
• Landscape impoundments with potential for public access or contact (Level 1 reclaimed water)
• Landscape impoundments with no potential for public access or contact (Level 2 reclaimed water)
• Other water reuse for landscaping not specifically identified in 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740 and listed above, may be approved on a case-by-case basis under other provisions of the regulation

In accordance with Virginia’s Water Reclamation and Reuse Regulation (9VAC25-740), the use of impoundments or ponds may be allowed for reject water storage or system storage of reclaimed water where these facilities meet the applicable design criteria and capacity requirements specified in the regulation. Impoundments or ponds may also be used for nonsystem storage of reclaimed water, which will not be subject to the same design criteria and capacity requirements of reject water storage and system storage, unless the reclaimed water in a nonsystem storage impoundment or pond is reused to irrigate sites under common ownership or management with the reclamation system or satellite reclamation system (SRS) that provides reclaimed water to the sites. Lined nonsystem storage impoundments and ponds require setbacks from potable water supply wells and springs and water supply intakes equivalent to those for reject water storage and system storage impoundments and ponds, which must be lined. Unlined nonsystem storage impoundments and ponds require setbacks that are double those of lined nonsystem storage and ponds. During storm events, nonsystem storage impoundments or ponds have less stringent discharge restrictions than reject water storage and system storage impoundments and ponds.

Landscape impoundments may also be used for nonsystem storage of reclaimed water prior to another subsequent reuse, such as irrigation. Consistent with the definition of landscape impoundments in the regulation, these facilities are listed as an approved reuse in the regulation, independent of any concurrent and secondary utility they may provide as nonsystem storage of the reclaimed water they contain.

Water reuse treatment category for landscaping

9VAC25-740 defines various categories of reclaimed water treatment according to their respective treatment requirements and applicable performance standards. The respective treatment requirements are briefly summarized for water reuse for landscaping: 

• For Level 1 reclaimed water, the treatment requirements are secondary treatment with filtration and “higher-level disinfection” to achieve the bacterial standards outlined in the table below. Disinfection may be accomplished by chlorination, ozonation, other chemical disinfections or UV radiation. 
• For Level 2 reclaimed water, the treatment requirements are secondary treatment and “standard disinfection” to achieve the bacterial standards outlined in the table below. Disinfection may be accomplished by chlorination, ozonation, other chemical disinfections or UV radiation.

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 defines a landscape impoundment as an indoor or outdoor “body of water that contains reclaimed water, is not intended for public contact and is used primarily for aesthetic enjoyment [which] include, but are not limited to, decorative pools, fountains, ponds and lagoons” (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740).

“Reject water storage” means storage for water diverted by a reclamation system or satellite reclamation system (SRS) that does not meet applicable reclaimed water standards (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740).

“System storage” means storage on or off the site and considered part of a reclamation system, SRS, or reclaimed water distribution system that is used to store reclaimed water produced by the reclamation system or SRS and to equalize flow to or within a reclaimed water distribution system (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740).

“Nonsystem system storage” means storage for reclaimed water that is other than system storage and is used at a location downstream of the service connection to the reclaimed water distribution system to equalize flow to end users (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740).

9VAC25-740 requires impoundments for nonsystem storage of reclaimed water, including landscape impoundments, to have a setback distance of at least 50 feet measured horizontally from the perimeter of the impoundment to property lines. These impoundments are required to be designed and operated “to prevent a discharge to surface waters of the state, except in the event of a storm greater than the 10-year, 24-hour storm”. Nonsystem storage impoundments requiring a liner of a type specified below, must have a minimum setback distances measured horizontally from the perimeter of the storage impoundment to “potable water supply wells and springs, and public water supply intakes” of 100 feet where the impoundment will store Level 1 reclaimed water and 200 feet where the impoundment will store Level 2 reclaimed water. For unlined nonsystem storage impoundments containing Level 1 reclaimed water or Level 2 reclaimed water, the minimum setback distances are 200 feet or 400 feet, respectively (9VAC25-740).

Impoundments or ponds used for reject water storage, system storage and, if applicable, nonsystem storage must have a properly designed and installed synthetic liner of at least 20 mils thickness in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications and recommendations, or a compacted soil liner of at least one foot thickness composed of separate lifts of six inches or fewer. The maximum coefficient of permeability required for synthetic and soil liners must be less than or equal to 1×10^-6 cm/sec and 1×10^-7 cm/sec, respectively. 

Advisory signs must be posted adjacent to nonsystem storage impoundments of reclaimed water, including landscape impoundments, which state, at minimum, “CAUTION: RECLAIMED WATER – DO NOT DRINK” and have “the equivalent standard international symbol for nonpotable water.”  Although the regulation requires the size of the sign and lettering to be such that the sign can be easily read at 50 feet by a person with normal vision, alternate signage and wording that assures an equivalent degree of public notification and protection may be accepted (9VAC25-740). 

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 a two-foot horizontal distance from the sewer line must be maintained. Virginia does not require setback distances “from occupied dwellings and outdoor eating, drinking and bathing facilities. However, aerosol formation shall be minimized within 100 feet of occupied dwellings and outdoor eating, drinking and bathing facilities through the use of low trajectory nozzles for spray irrigation, above-ground drip irrigation, or other means” (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740-170).

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). In-ground reclaimed water distribution piping with an outer diameter greater than or equal to one inch and installed after January 2014 must have signage or labels that display the warning: “CAUTION: RECLAIMED WATER – DO NOT DRINK.” Advisory signs or placards must be posted within and at the boundaries of reuse areas and must also state the nature of the reuse. Examples of some notification methods that may be used by permittees include posting advisory signs at entrances to residential neighborhoods where reclaimed water is used for landscape irrigation and posting advisory signs at the entrance to a golf course and at the first and tenth tees (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740).

Water reuse for landscaping specifications

Summary of Virginia's Water Reuse for Landscaping Specifications

Source= 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740, 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-790

MGD= million gallons per day. POC= point of compliance.

* 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 The POC for most reclaimed water quality parameters, excluding turbidity, in Virginia is after all reclaimed water treatment and prior to discharge to a reclaimed water distribution system. The POC for turbidity shall be just upstream of disinfection.

^b Must meet bacterial standards for either fecal coliform, E. coli or enterococci. All three are not required.

^c For the purpose of calculating the geometric mean, bacterial analytical results below the detection level of the analytical method used shall be reported as values equal to the detection level.

^d Applies only if CBOD5 is used in lieu of BOD5.

^e Only applies if chlorine is used for disinfection.

^f TRC less than 1.0 mg/l may be authorized by the board if demonstrated to provide comparable disinfection through a chlorine reduction program in accordance with the Sewage Collection and Treatment Regulations 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-790).

^g If UV radiation is used for disinfection of Level 1 reclaimed water, other turbidity standards may apply in accordance with 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740-110 A2a.

^h Only applicable if UV radiation is used for disinfection.

ⁱ There are no reclaimed water standards for phosphorus and nitrogen. However, a nutrient management plan may be required for irrigation reuse of reclaimed water determined by (i) the total nitrogen and total phosphorus content of the reclaimed water and (ii) the area of the site to be irrigated, with some exceptions specified in 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740-100C.

Upcoming state law or policy

No upcoming regulations pertaining to water reuse for landscaping 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).

Design criteria, 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740-110.

DEQ Division of Water Permitting, Guidance Memo. 10-2001, Rev. 1; Implementation Guidance for the Water Reclamation and Reuse Regulation, 9VAC25-740-10 et seq.

Sewage Collection and Treatment Regulations, 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-790.

Use area requirements, 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740-170.

Water Reclamation and Reuse Regulation, 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740.

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Disclaimers

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