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
• Water reuse for centralized non-potable reuse approved for use in Georgia
• Water reuse treatment category for centralized non-potable reuse
• Additional context and definitions
• Water reuse for 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 Georgia, 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 fire protection, decorative fountains and toilet and urinal flushing, 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 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; 2022). 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. Georgia requires a permit through Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and an additional National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) permit may be required dependent on whether the wastewater generated exceeds the reclaimed water demand. Treatment requirements and performance standards are applied for the removal of pathogen and chemical contaminants for centralized non-potable reuse applications and are summarized in the “Water reuse for centralized non-potable reuse specifications” table. The technical basis for the removal of pathogen and chemical contaminants is not explicitly specified.

Water reuse for centralized non-potable reuse approved for use in Georgia

Georgia DNR (2011) and Georgia DNR (2022) define 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 treatment category for centralized non-potable reuse

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, 2022).
• 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, 2022). Agricultural irrigation is discussed separately in the Agricultural Irrigation and other Applications Related to Agriculture end use summary.

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, 2022).
• 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

Monitoring of groundwater and surface water is generally not required for reuse systems in Georgia (Georgia DNR, 2022). However, the EPD may determine that groundwater monitoring is required on a case-by-case basis at the time of permitting. Monitoring of groundwater and surface water will be required on reclaimed water land application systems (RLAS).

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; 2022). 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, 2022).

Water reuse for centralized non-potable reuse specifications

Summary of Georgia’s Centralized Non-Potable Reuse Specifications

Source= Georgia DNR (2022)

^a All sampling and analysis shall adhere to the requirements of 40 CFR 136 unless otherwise stated in the permit. The operations manual must address the routine equipment inspection and calibration schedule (Georgia DNR, 2022).

^b Any water exceeding 3 NTU should be automatically rejected. Routine calibration of turbidimeter and other online analyzers should be performed.

^c Strongly recommended (Georgia DNR, 2022).

^d Enterococci are used as water quality criterion instead of E. coli only for facilities discharging treated wastewater to marine waters under an NPDES permit and that are required to meet EPD reuse standards and/or that are supplying reuse water on a side-stream basis (Georgia DNR, 2022).

Upcoming state law or policy

No upcoming regulations pertaining to water reuse for centralized non-potable reuse 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 (DNR). 2011. Guidelines for Reclaimed Water Systems for Buildings.

Georgia DNR. 2022. Guidelines for Water Reclamation and Urban Water Reuse.

United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 40 CFR Part 136. Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants Under the Clean Water Act, Final Rule and Interim Final Rule and Proposed Rule. Federal Register.

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Disclaimers

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.