Summary of North Carolina'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 North Carolina
• Water reuse treatment category for agriculture
• Additional context and definitions
• Water reuse for agriculture 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 North Carolina, water reuse for agriculture water reuse for agricultureThe use of recycled water to land to assist in the production of both commercially and non-commercially processed food crops consumed by humans or livestock and non-food crops. Includes pasture for milking and non-milking animals, fodder, fiber, and seed crops, vineyards, orchards, ornamental nursery stock, Christmas trees, and silviculture. Excludes consumption by livestock, onsite non-potable reuse, and landscaping. includes direct or indirect contact irrigation of food chain crops that will or will not be peeled, skinned, cooked or thermally processed before consumption. 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 reclaimed 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

North Carolina approves the use of reclaimed water for beneficial use, including water reuse for agriculture. Beneficial use applications related to agriculture include irrigation of food chain crops and ornamental crops (15A N.C. Admin Code). 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 and any relevant rule requirements under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) (124 Stat. 3885). In North Carolina, a permit is required from the North Carolina Division of Water Quality Aquifer Protection Section, Land Application Unit, to treat and produce treated municipal wastewater (15A N.C. Admin Code § 02U). Treatment requirements and performance standards are applied for the removal of debris, microbial contaminants, chemicals and other relevant indicators related to agriculture reuse and are summarized in the table. The technical basis for developing the specifications and/or removal of debris, microbial contaminants, chemicals and other relevant indicators is not explicitly specified.

Water reuse for agriculture approved for use in North Carolina

15A N.C. Admin Code 02U as well as the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCEQ, 2023) defines the following approved water reuse for agriculture applications:

• Direct or indirect contact irrigation of food chain crops that will be processed (e.g., peeled, skinned, cooked, thermally treated) before consumption (Type 1)
  • Crops irrigated by direct contact with reclaimed water shall not be harvested within 24 hours of irrigation with Type 1 reclaimed water
• Irrigation of ornamental crops by field nurseries and aboveground container nurseries (Type 1)

Indirect contact irrigation of food chain crops that will not be processed (e.g., peeled, skinned, cooked, thermally treated) before consumption (Type 2). North Carolina does not allow the use of reclaimed water for direct contact irrigation of food chain crops that will not be peeled, skinned, cooked or thermally processed before consumption (15A N.C. Admin Code 02U). However, upon request, North Carolina authorizes “demonstration projects to collect and present data related to the direct application of reclaimed water on crops that are not peeled, skinned, cooked, or thermally processed before consumption. Crops produced during such demonstration projects may be used as animal feed or may be thermally processed, cooked, or otherwise prepared for human consumption in a manner approved by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services” (15A N.C. Admin Code 02U). Additional agriculture reuse applications for collected treated municipal wastewater are not specified.

Water reuse treatment category for agriculture

The two types of reclaimed water (Type 1 and Type 2) are differentiated by their specific treatment requirements, chemical contaminants and microbiological removal requirements (15A N.C. Admin Code 02U.0100):

• Treatment requirements are not specified for Type 1 reclaimed water; however, for treated effluent to be categorized as Type 1, the parameter limits provided in the table must be met.
• Type 2 reclaimed water treatment facilities must produce effluent quality that meets the parameters specified in the table. Type 2 facilities must provide dual disinfection systems containing UV disinfection and chlorination or equivalent dual disinfection processes to meet pathogen control requirements. Type 2 facilities must demonstrate that the combined treatment and disinfection processes are capable of the following reduction targets:
  • ≥log 6 reduction of E. coli
  • ≥log 5 reduction of coliphage
  • ≥log 4 reduction of Clostridium perfringens

Additional context and definitions

North Carolina defines beneficial reuse as the utilization of reclaimed water in a beneficial manner and for the purpose of conservation of the State’s water resources by reducing the use of other potable water, surface water and groundwater resources (15A N.C. Admin Code 02U). Reclaimed water is defined as treated wastewater effluent meeting the required effluent standards and used for beneficial reuse (15A N.C. Admin Code § 02U).

Type 1 reclaimed water can be used for both direct and indirect contact irrigation where crops are processed (e.g., peeled, skinned, cooked, thermally treated) before consumption. Type 2 reclaimed water is primarily used for indirect contact irrigation where the crops are not processed before consumption. Direct contact irrigation means application methods that result in the direct contact of reclaimed water on the portion of the crop intended for human consumption (15A N.C. Admin Code § 02U). Indirect contact irrigation means application methods that preclude direct contact of reclaimed water on the portion of the crop intended for human consumption (15A N.C. Admin Code § 02U).

North Carolina requires reclaimed water to be distributed through “pipes and appurtenances" that are "either colored purple (Pantone 522 or equivalent) and embossed or integrally stamped or marked ‘CAUTION: RECLAIMED WATER – DO NOT DRINK’ or installed with a purple (Pantone 522 or equivalent) identification tape or polyethylene vinyl wrap. The warning must be stamped on opposite sides of the pipe and repeated every three feet or less." The "identification tape must be at least three inches wide and have white or black lettering on purple (Pantone 522 or equivalent) field stating ‘CAUTION: RECLAIMED WATER – DO NOT DRINK.’ Identification tape shall be installed on top of reclaimed water pipelines, fastened at least every 10 feet to each pipe length and run continuously the entire length of the pipe. Existing underground distribution systems retrofitted for the purpose of conveying reclaimed water shall be taped or otherwise identified. This identification need not extend the entire length of the distribution system but shall be incorporated within 10 feet of crossing any potable water supply line or sanitary sewer line." No direct cross-connections between the reclaimed water and potable waters systems are permitted unless such connections have been approved by the state. Irrigation system piping is considered part of the distribution system (15A N.C. Admin Code § 02U).

The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCENR) has an established Water Efficiency Manual to support the safe and sustainable use of treated municipal wastewater as well as provide foundation of the basis of specifications (NCENR, 2009).

Water reuse for agriculture specifications

Summary of North Carolina's Water Reuse for Agriculture Specifications

Source = 15A N.C. Admin Code § 02U.

^a 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 regulations.

^b In reclaimed water effluent intended to be used for agricultural reuse applications, E. coli or fecal coliforms should be measured with the corresponding specifications met prior to storage, distribution, or utilization.

^c Applies to Type 1 reclaimed water discharged to wetlands. Requirement remains applicable unless net environmental benefits are provided.

^d Type 2 reclaimed water has both performance values and log reduction targets. The log reduction targets are: log 6 reduction of E. coli, log 5 reduction of coliphage, and log 4 reduction of C. perfringens.

Upcoming state law or policy

No upcoming regulations pertaining to water reuse for agriculture were found for North Carolina.

References

Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.

Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), 124 Stat. 3885.

North Carolina Administrative Code (NCAC) Title 15A Environmental Quality, 15A N.C. Admin Code.

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR). 2009. Water Efficiency Manual.

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ). 2023. Water Reuse & Reclamation.

Reclaimed Water, 15A N.C. Admin Code § 02U.

Water Resources, 38 N.C. Admin Code. §143 355.5.

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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.