Summary of Virginia's Water Reuse Guideline or Regulation for Consumption by Livestock
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 consumption by livestock approved for use in Virginia
- Water reuse treatment category for consumption by livestock
- Additional context and definitions
- Water reuse for consumption by livestock 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 Virginia, water reuse for consumption by livestock The use of recycled water for livestock drinking water supplies. Excludes physical application of reclaimed water to pasture for milking and non-milking animals, forage crops used as animal feed, and land used for livestock grazing. applications include consumption by milking and non-milking livestock. 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. The write-up below 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 consumption by livestock, including both milking and non-milking livestock (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740). Virginia categorizes reuse applications related to consumption by livestock as industrial. For the industrial reuse category, Virginia requires that worker contact with reclaimed water treated to Level 2 should be minimized and Level 1 disinfection is required when worker contact with reclaimed water is likely (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 in addition to any state water quality standards. Treatment requirements and performance standards are applied for the removal of microbial contaminants, chemicals and other relevant indicators related to consumption by livestock 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 listed water reuse for consumption by livestock that has a low potential for direct public contact.
Water reuse for consumption by livestock approved for use in Virginia
9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740 identifies the following approved reuse applications related to consumption by livestock:
- Consumption by milking livestock (Level 1)
- Consumption by livestock (including non-milking livestock) (Level 2)
Water reuse treatment for consumption by livestock
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 reuse applications related to consumption by livestock:
- For Level 1 reclaimed water, the treatment requirements are secondary treatment with filtration to achieve the bacterial standards outlined in the table.
- For Level 2 reclaimed water, the treatment requirements are secondary treatment and “standard disinfection” to achieve the bacterial standards outlined in the table. 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 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. 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 installed after January 2014 must have signage or labels that display the warning: “CAUTION: RECLAIMED WATER – DO NOT DRINK.”
Water reuse for consumption by livestock specifications
Summary of Virginia's Water Reuse for Consumption by Livestock Specifications
| Recycled Water Class/Category | Source Water Type | Water Quality Parameter | Specification | Sampling/Monitoring Requirements (Frequency of monitoring; site/ location of sample; quantification methods)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Level 1 (Consumption by milking livestock) |
Municipal wastewater |
Fecal coliforma |
≤14 colonies/100 mL (monthly geometric mean)d >49 colonies/100 mL (corrective action threshold) |
Measured after all reclaimed water treatment, including disinfection and prior to discharge to a reclaimed water distribution system between 10 am and 4 pm. The sampling frequency depends on the reclamation system designated design flow: >0.500 MGD= Daily (reduction to 4 days/week allowed) 0.050–0.500 MGD= 4 days/week (reduction to 3 days/week allowed) <0.050= 3 days/week (no reduction allowed) Monitoring of the CAT for fecal coliform, E. coli or enterococci shall be based on the bacteriological monitoring results determined for each day a sample is collected. |
|
E. colia |
≤11 colonies/100 mL (monthly geometric mean)d >35 colonies/100 mL (corrective action threshold) |
|||
|
Enterococcia |
≤11 colonies/100 mL (monthly geometric mean)d >24 colonies/100 mL (corrective action threshold) |
|||
|
pH |
6.0–9.0 |
Daily grab samples at the POC |
||
|
5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) or 5-day carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD5) |
≤10 mg/L (monthly average BOD5) or ≤8 mg/L (monthly average CBOD5)f |
At least weekly sampling at the POC or more frequently based on designated design flow of the reclamation system; sampling at the POC |
||
|
Total residual chlorineb |
<1.0 mg/L (corrective action threshold) |
Continuous online monitoring at the end of the contact tank or contact period. Minimum contact time is 30 minutes at average flow or 20 minutes at peak flow |
||
|
Turbidityc |
≤2 NTU (daily average) >5 NTU (corrective action threshold) |
Continuous online monitoring just upstream of disinfection |
||
|
UV light design doseg |
≥100,000 uWsec/cm2 |
Continuous monitoring |
||
|
UV transmittanceg |
≥55% at 254 nm |
Not specified |
||
|
Nitrogenh |
Not specified |
Not specified |
||
|
Phosphorush |
Not specified |
Not specified |
||
|
Level 2 (Consumption by livestock, including non-milking livestock) |
Municipal wastewater |
Fecal coliforma |
≤200 colonies/100 mL (monthly geometric mean)d >800 colonies/100 mL (corrective action threshold) |
Measured after all reclaimed water treatment, including disinfection and prior to discharge to a reclaimed water distribution system. The sampling is based on the reclamation system designated design flow and must be the same sampling type and frequency as specified for sewage treatment works in the Sewage Collection and Treatment Regulations (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-790). |
|
E. colia |
≤126 colonies/100 mL (monthly geometric mean)d >235 colonies/100 mL (corrective action threshold) |
|||
|
Enterococcia |
≤35 colonies/100 mL (monthly geometric mean)d >104 colonies/100 mL (corrective action threshold) |
|||
|
pH |
6.0–9.0 |
Daily grab samples at the POC |
||
|
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) or 5-day carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD5) |
≤30 mg/L (monthly average BOD5) ≤45 mg/L (maximum weekly average BOD5) or ≤25 mg/L (monthly average CBOD5)f ≤40 mg/L (maximum weekly average CBOD5)f |
At least weekly sampling or more frequently based on reclamation system designated design flow and must be the same sampling type and frequency as specified for sewage treatment works in the Sewage Collection and Treatment Regulations (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-790); sampling to occur at the POC |
||
|
Total suspended solids (TSS) |
≤30 mg/L (monthly average) ≤45 mg/L (weekly average) |
|||
|
Total residual chlorineb |
<1.0 mg/L (corrective action threshold) |
Minimum contact time is 30 minutes at average flow or 20 minutes at peak flow. Sampling should be based on the reclamation system designated design flow and the same type and frequency as specified for sewage treatment works in the Sewage Collection and Treatment Regulations (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-790). |
||
|
UV light design doseg |
≥50,000 uWsec/cm2 |
Determined in accordance with 9VAC25-790-770 |
||
|
UV transmittanceg |
≥65% at 253.7 nm |
Determined in accordance with 9VAC25-790-770 |
||
|
Nitrogenh |
Not specified |
Not specified |
||
|
Phosphorush |
Not specified |
Not specified |
Source= 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740, 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-790
MGD= million gallons per day; POC= point of compliance. In Virginia, the POC is after all reclaimed water treatment and prior to discharge to a reclaimed water distribution system for most standards, with the exception of turbidity. The POC for turbidity is just upstream of disinfection.
* 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 Must meet bacterial standards for either fecal coliform, E. coli or enterococci. All three are not required.
b Only applies if chlorine was used for disinfection.
c 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.
d 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.
e 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 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-790.
f Applies only if CBOD5 is used in lieu of BOD5.
g Only applicable if UV radiation is used for disinfection.
h There are no reclaimed water standards for phosphorus and nitrogen. However, a nutrient management plan may be required for use of reclaimed water as determined by the total nitrogen and total phosphorus content of the reclaimed water and the area of the site to be irrigated, with some exceptions specified in 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740-110 A2a.
Upcoming state law or policy
No upcoming regulations pertaining to water reuse for consumption by livestock were found for Virginia.
References
Bacteria; other recreational waters, 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-260-170.
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.
Fecal coliform bacteria; shellfish waters, 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-260-160.
Sewage Collection and Treatment Regulations, 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-790.
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Water Division Guidance Memo 14-2003, Section MN-3.
Water Reclamation and Reuse Regulation, 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740.
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