Summary of Massachusetts' 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 Massachusetts
- Water reuse treatment category for landscaping
- Additional context and definitions
- Water reuse for landscaping 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 Massachusetts, water reuse for 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 irrigation at landscaped areas where members of the public are likely to come into contact with reclaimed water and irrigation of landscaped areas associated with highways (other than highway rest areas). 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. 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
Massachusetts approves the reuse of reclaimed wastewater for landscaping, including irrigation of landscaped areas associated with highways in locations where individual members of the public are not likely to come into contact with the reclaimed water (314 Mass. Code Regs. 20.00). 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). 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 technical basis for developing the specifications and/or removals of microbial contaminants, chemicals and other relevant indicators is not explicitly specified.
Water reuse for landscaping approved for use in Massachusetts
314 Mass. Code Regs. 20.00 defines the following approved water reuse for landscaping:
- Irrigation at landscaped areas where members of the public are likely to come into contact with reclaimed water (Class A)
- This includes, but is not limited to, golf courses, parks and playgrounds; landscaping around residential and mixed-use developments; athletic fields; cemeteries; highway rest areas; and non-residential developments (i.e., office complexes, public buildings, hotels, motels and commercial malls).
- Irrigation of landscaped areas associated with highways (other than highway rest areas) including, without limitation, median strips and shoulders (Class B)
Water reuse treatment category for landscaping
In Massachusetts, the various classes of treatment are assigned based on the potential for human contact, with Class A being the highest probability of human contact. The respective treatment requirements are briefly summarized (314 Mass. Code Regs. 20.00):
- For Class A reclaimed water, the reclaimed water must meet or exceed the Class A effluent limits defined in the table.
- For Class B reclaimed water, the reclaimed water must meet or exceed the Class B effluent limits defined in the table.
Additional context and definitions
Massachusetts defines reclaimed water as “wastewater that has been treated so that it is suitable for beneficial reuse in accordance with 314 CMR 20.00” (314 Mass. Code Regs. 20.00).
Massachusetts requires that all municipal reclaimed water plumbing and out-of-sight fixtures are colored purple and marked or stamped with the following warning every three feet or less: “NOTICE: RECLAIMED WATER – DO NOT DRINK” (314 Mass. Code Regs. 20.00). All areas at a reuse site that are accessible to the public, like reclaimed water valves, storage facilities and outlets, must have visible purple-colored public signs stating “NOTICE: RECLAIMED WATER – DO NOT DRINK” in English and any additional “locally employed language.” No cross connections are allowed between a reclaimed water system, a potable water system and all pipes conveying water for drinking, domestic and culinary purposes.
Water reuse for landscaping specifications
Summary of Massachusetts' Water Reuse for Landscaping Specifications
| Recycled Water Class/Category | Source Water Type | Water Quality Parameter | Specification | Sampling/Monitoring Requirements (Frequency of monitoring; site/ location of sample; quantification methods)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Class A (Irrigation of landscaped areas that members of the public are likely to come into contact with) |
Municipal wastewater |
pH |
6.5–8.5 |
Point of compliance is after the final treatment process and prior to the point of discharge |
|
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) |
<10 mg/L |
|||
|
Total suspended solids (TSS) |
<5 mg/L |
|||
|
Turbidity |
<2 NTU (24-hour average) 5 NTU (cannot exceed more than 5% of time for 24-hour period) 10 NTU (cannot exceed at any time) |
|||
|
Total nitrogena |
<10 mg/L |
|||
|
Fecal coliform |
No detectable fecal coliform/100 mL (median over continuous 7-day sampling period) ≤14/100 mL (single sample maximum) |
|||
|
Phosphorusa |
May be established on a case-by-case basis |
Not specified |
||
|
Class B (Irrigation of landscaped areas associated with highways) |
Municipal wastewater |
pH |
6.5–8.5 |
Point of compliance is after the final treatment process and prior to the point of reuse |
|
5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) |
<30 mg/L |
|||
|
Total suspended solids (TSS) |
<10 mg/L |
|||
|
Total nitrogena |
<10 mg/L |
|||
|
Fecal coliformb |
≤14 coliform/100 mL (median over continuous 7-day sampling period) ≤100/100 mL (single sample maximum) |
|||
|
Phosphorusa |
May be established on a case-by-case basis |
Not specified |
Source= 314 Mass. Code Regs. 20.00
* 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 Department may establish a limit on phosphorus limit on total nitrogen that is more stringent than 10 mg/L to maintain or achieve compliance with Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards and/or to protect the actual or potential use of the groundwater as a source of potable water.
b The specifications for fecal coliforms allow for the occasional excursion, but mandates a low limit that must be maintained for Class A recycled water where there is a high probability of human contact.
Upcoming state law or policy
No upcoming regulations pertaining to water reuse for landscaping were found for Massachusetts.
References
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.
Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), 124 Stat. 3885.
Reclaimed Water Permit Program and Standards, 314 Mass. Code Regs. 20.00.
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.