Summary of Virginia's Water Reuse Guideline or Regulation for Industry
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 industrial applications approved for use in Virginia
- Water reuse treatment category for industrial applications
- Additional context and definitions
- Water reuse for industrial applications 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 industryThe use of recycled water for industrial applications, often created at the industrial facility. This includes recycled water generated through onsite processes such as boiler water, cooling water, manufacturing water, and oil and gas production, as well as recycled water generated offsite and imported elsewhere for industrial reuse applications. includes reuse for aquaculture, boiler feed, stack scrubbing, once-through cooing and recirculating cooling towers. The source of water treated municipal wastewaterTreated 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 on this page 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 industrial applications in accordance with the Water Reclamation and Reuse Regulation (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740) as follows:
- The reuse of reclaimed municipal wastewater for industrial uses specifically listed in the regulation,
- The reuse of reclaimed municipal wastewater for industrial uses not listed in the regulation but approved on a case-by-case basis according to procedures specified by the regulation,
- The reuse of reclaimed industrial wastewater for any industrial use (listed or not listed in the regulation) on a case-by-case basis according to procedures specified by the regulation.
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 industrial applications and are summarized in the table.
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 industrial applications approved for use in Virginia
9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740 identifies the following approved industrial applications, grouped according to minimum reclaimed water standards (i.e., Level 1 or Level 2) required for each:
- Aquaculture (Level 2 reclaimed water)
- Boiler feed (Level 2 reclaimed water)
- Stack scrubbing (Level 2 reclaimed water)
- Once-through cooling (Level 2 reclaimed water)
- Recirculating cooling towers (Level 2 reclaimed water)
For all industrial uses of reclaimed municipal wastewater, Virginia requires that worker contact with reclaimed water treated to Level 2 be minimized and when worker contact is likely, Level 1 disinfection of the reclaimed water must be provided (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740).
Water reuse treatment category for industrial applications
9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740 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 reuse applications related to industrial applications:
- 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. Disinfection may be accomplished by chlorination, ozonation, other chemical disinfections or UV radiation in accordance with the 9VAC25-790-770.
- 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 in accordance with the 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-770.
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 requires that a setback distance of 300 feet horizontally be provided from an open cooling tower to the site property line where reclaimed water treated to Level 2 is used in the tower (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740-170). No setback distance is required from an open cooling tower to the site property line where a drift or mist eliminator is installed and properly operated or when reclaimed water treated to Level 1 disinfection standards is used in the tower.
Industrial wastewater is defined as “wastewater resulting from any process of industry, manufacture, trade or business, or from the development of any natural resources” (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740). “Standards for the reclamation of industrial wastewater shall be determined on a case-by-case basis relative to the proposed reuse or reuses of the reclaimed water and for the purpose of protecting public health and the environment” (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740). Design standards for reclamation systems of industrial wastewater or source water derived from an industrial wastewater treatment works shall be determined and evaluated on a case-by-case basis” (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740).
Virginia requires reclaimed water agents or providers of reclaimed water to develop and implement a reclaimed water management plan. This plan must include, among other things, a “cross-connection and backflow prevention program that evaluates (i) the potential for cross-connections of the reclaimed water distribution system to a potable water system and backflow to the reclaimed water distribution system from industrial end users,” and (ii) the public health risks associated with possible backflow from industrial end users” (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 two feet of 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). For industrial reuses, advisory signs must be “posted around those areas of the industrial site where reclaimed water is used and at the main entrances to the industrial site to notify employees and the visiting public of the reclaimed water reuse (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740. Access control beyond what is normally provided by the industry is not required” (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740).
Industrial effluents or other industrial water streams created prior to final treatment and used for water recirculation, recycle, or reuse systems located on the same property as the industrial facility may be excluded from the requirements of 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740, provided they meet qualifying criteria for the protection of human health and worker safety. However, such activities may be subject to other applicable regulations that are unrelated to water reuse.
Water reuse for industrial applications specifications
Summary of Virginia's Water Reuse for Industrial Applications Reuse Specifications
| Recycled Water Class/Category (Approved Uses) | Source Water Typea | Water Quality Parameter | Specification | Sampling/Monitoring Requirements (Frequency of monitoring; site/ location of sample; quantification methods)*b |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Level 2 (Aquaculture, boiler feed, stack scrubbing, street washing, once-through cooling and recirculating cooling towers) |
Municipal wastewater |
Fecal coliformc |
≤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. Sampling for fecal coliform, E. coli or enterococci for Level 2 shall be based on the designated design flow of the reclamation system and 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). Compliance with the geometric mean standards for fecal coliform, E. coli or enterococci shall be determined monthly, based on all bacteriological monitoring results for that month. 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. colic |
≤126 colonies/100 mL (monthly geometric mean)d >235 colonies/100 mL (corrective action threshold) |
|||
|
Enterococcic |
≤35 colonies/100 mL (monthly geometric mean)d >104 colonies/100 mL (corrective action threshold) |
|||
|
pH |
6.0–9.0 Standard Units |
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 (weekly average BOD5) or ≤25 mg/L (monthly average CBOD5)e ≤40 mg/L (maximum weekly average CBOD5)e |
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 chlorinef |
<1.0 mg/L (corrective action threshold)g |
Minimum contact time is 30 minutes at average flow or 20 minutes at peak flow. Sampling and analysis should be based on the reclamation system designated design flow and the same sampling type and frequency as specified for sewage treatment works in the Sewage Collection and Treatment Regulations (9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-790-960). |
||
|
UV light design doseh |
³50,000 uWsec/cm2 |
Monitoring in accordance with 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-790-770 |
||
|
UV transmittanceh |
³65% at 253.7 nm |
Monitoring in accordance with 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-790-770 |
||
|
Nitrogeni |
Not specified |
Not specified |
||
|
Phosphorusi |
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.
* 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 For reclaimed industrial wastewater, minimum standards required shall be determined on a case-by-case basis relative to the proposed reuse or reuses.
b 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.
c Must meet bacterial standards for either fecal coliform, E. coli or enterococci. All three are not required.
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 Applies only if CBOD5 is used in lieu of BOD5.
f Only applies if chlorine is used for disinfection.
g 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).
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 § 25-740-100 C.
Upcoming state law or policy
No upcoming regulations related to water reuse for industry were found for Virginia.
References:
Application for Permit, 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740-100 C.
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).
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.
Design Criteria, 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-740-110 A 2 a.
Fecal coliform bacteria; shellfish waters, 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-260-160.
Influent and effluent sampling, 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-790-960.
Sewage Collection and Treatment Regulations, 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-790.
Ultraviolet light radiation, 9 Va. Admin. Code § 25-790-770.
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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