National Water Recycling Guidelines

Water reuse protects diversion of water from sensitive ecosystems and reduces the reliance on surface water sources. Recycled water can be used in a variety of ways, and can benefit communities and the environment.

Identification

• Some states have regulations in place for reclaimed/reused water. A few states have no regulations at all regarding water reuse. The Environmental Protection Agency in 2004 developed the Guidelines for Water Reuse for those states without regulations, in particular.

Types

• The EPA guidelines cover urban reuse, industrial reuse, agricultural reuse, environmental and recreational reuse, and groundwater recharge.

Benefits

• Water recycling leads to locally controlled dependable water supplies for communities, protects sensitive water habitats, can enhance or increase wetland habitats, and can prevent and reduce pollution.