Summary of Pennsylvania's Water Reuse Guideline or Regulation for Centralized Non-potable Reuse
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
- Applications of centralized non-potable reuse approved for use in Pennsylvania
- Water reuse category/type
- Additional context and definitions
- Centralized non-potable reuse 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 Pennsylvania, centralized non-potable reuse The use of recycled water for centralized non-potable reuse where the water does not derive from the same site where it is to be reused. Can include, but is not limited to, toilet flushing, dust control, soil compaction, fire protection, commercial laundries, vehicle washing, street cleaning, snowmaking, and other similar uses. Excludes on-site non-potable water reuse and the use of recycled water for agriculture or landscaping. applications include clothes washing, swimming pools, vehicle washing and commercial toilet and urinal flushing, among others. 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 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
Pennsylvania approves the use of reclaimed water for centralized non-potable reuse applications including, but not limited to, clothes washing, vehicle washing, commercial toilet and urinal flushing, commercial window washing, decorative water features, fire protection, snowmaking, street cleaning, concrete production and dust control (Pennsylvania DEP, 2012). 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. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has established treatment guidelines for the reuse applications that are allowable in Pennsylvania. These treatment guidelines are designed “to ensure that reclaimed water discharges are free from substances that pose a serious threat to public health, safety, and welfare” and are protective of “human health, as well as the environment” (Pennsylvania DEP, 2012). All reuse projects in Pennsylvania are required to obtain a Water Quality Permit from DEP (Pennsylvania DEP, 2012). Pennsylvania guidelines include specific treatment requirements, which vary by the class of reclaimed water. Class A reclaimed water is required to meet SDWA regulations (40 C.F.R. § 141) for all microbial and chemical contaminants because it can also be used for indirect potable reuse applications (this reuse application is discussed separately in the Potable Water Reuse summary). For Class B and C reclaimed water, the technical basis for the removal of pathogen and chemical contaminants is not explicitly specified.
Applications of centralized non-potable reuse approved for use in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania DEP (2012) defines the following approved centralized non-potable reuse applications:
- Clothes washing (Class A)
- Outdoor residential washdown (Class A)
- Public and private swimming pools (Class A)
- Vehicle washing
- Residential car washing (Class A)
- Commercial vehicle washing (Class B)
- Commercial toilet and urinal flushing (Class B)
- Commercial chemical mixing of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers (Class B)
- Commercial window washing and pressure cleaning (Class B)
- Decorative water features such as fountains, reflecting pools and waterfalls (Class B)
- Fire protection (Class B)
- Snowmaking (Class B)
- Street cleaning (Class B)
- Concrete production (Class C)
- Dust control (Class C)
- Washing and processing aggregate (Class C)
Water reuse category/type
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 centralized non-potable reuse applications:
- For Class A reclaimed water, the treatment requirements are secondary treatment, nitrification, denitrification, filtration and disinfection via chlorination or UV. Nitrification and denitrification “may not be required” for Class A applications that do not involve indirect potable reuse (Pennsylvania DEP, 2012). Indirect potable reuse applications are discussed separately in the EPA Potable Water states summary document.
- In cases where UV light is used for disinfection, a dose of ≥100 mJ/cm2 is required. Additional variations of this requirement might be applicable; please see the specifications summarized in the table below.
- In cases where chlorine is used for disinfection, a total chlorine residual of at least 1.0 mg/L should be maintained for a minimum contact time of 30 minutes at design average flow.
- For Class B reclaimed water, the treatment requirements are secondary treatment, filtration and disinfection via chlorination or UV.
- In cases where UV light is used for disinfection, a dose of ≥100 mJ/cm2 is required.
- In cases where chlorine is used for disinfection, a total chlorine residual of at least 1.0 mg/L should be maintained for a minimum contact time of 30 minutes at design average flow.
- For Class C reclaimed water, the treatment requirements are secondary treatment and disinfection via chlorination or UV.
- In cases where UV light is used for disinfection, a dose of ≥75 mJ/cm2 is required.
- In cases where chlorine is used for disinfection, a total chlorine residual of at least 1.0 mg/L should be maintained for a minimum contact time of 30 minutes at design average flow.
Additional context and definitions
Pennsylvania defines reclaimed water as “treated wastewater used in accordance with applicable guidelines for beneficial purpose as a substitute for water withdrawn from a surface or groundwater source. The term reclaimed water includes both recycled and reused water.” (Pennsylvania DEP, 2012). They define wastewater as “the combination or the liquid or water-carried wastes removed from residences, institutions, and commercial and industrial establishments” (Pennsylvania DEP, 2012).
Pennsylvania requires that municipal reclaimed water lines and appurtenances be color coded purple and identified as carrying non-potable water (Pennsylvania DEP, 2012). For public access systems, the public should be notified about the use of reclaimed water, typically via signage and the use of purple signage is recommended. In restricted access areas, all employees must be notified in writing and receive awareness instructions about the exposure to reclaimed water.
Centralized non-potable reuse specifications
Summary of Pennsylvania's Centralized Non-potable Reuse Specifications
| Recycled Water Class/Category | Source Water Type | Water Quality Parameter | Specification | Sampling/Monitoring Requirements (Frequency of monitoring; site/ location of sample; quantification methods)*a |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Class A Reclaimed Water (clothes washing, outdoor residential washdown, swimming pools, residential car washing) |
Municipal wastewater |
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) |
<2 mg/L (monthly average) 5 mg/L (single sample maximum) |
Weekly monitoring |
|
Total organic carbon (TOC) |
<10 mg/L |
|||
|
Turbidity |
≤2 NTU (monthly average) 5 NTU (single sample maximum) |
Continuous monitoring |
||
|
Fecal coliform |
<2.2 organisms//100 mL (monthly average) 23 organisms/100 mL (single sample maximum) |
Monitoring 2/week |
||
|
Total organic halides (TOX) |
<0.2 mg/L (monthly average |
Weekly monitoring |
||
|
Total nitrogen |
<10 mg/L (monthly average) |
|||
|
All other primary and secondary drinking water contaminants |
See SDWA regulations (40 C.F.R. § 141) |
Quarterly monitoring |
||
|
Total chlorine residualb |
≥1.0 mg/L (maintained for a minimum contact time of 30 minutes at the design average flow) >0.02 mg/L (at point of reuse application) |
Continuous online monitoring |
||
|
UV light design dosec |
≥100 mJ/cm2 under maximum daily flow ≥80 mJ/cm2 (if porous membrane filtration was used) ≥50 mJ/cm2 (if semi-permeable membrane filtration was used) |
Continuous monitoring of lamp intensity, UV transmittance and flow rate |
||
|
Class B Reclaimed Water (commercial vehicle washing, commercial toilet and urinal flushing, commercial chemical mixing, commercial window washing and pressure cleaning, decorative water features, fire protection, snowmaking, street cleaning) |
Municipal wastewater |
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) |
<10 mg/L (monthly average) 20 mg/L (single sample maximum) |
Weekly monitoring |
|
Turbidity |
<10 NTU (monthly average) 15 NTU (single sample maximum) |
Continuous monitoring |
||
|
Fecal coliform |
<2.2 organisms/100 mL (monthly average) 23 organisms/100 mL (single sample maximum) |
Monitoring 2/week |
||
|
Total chlorine residualb |
≥1.0 mg/L (maintained for a minimum contact time of 30 minutes at the design average flow) >0.02 mg/L (at point of reuse application) |
Continuous online monitoring |
||
|
UV light design dosec |
≥100 mJ/cm2 under maximum daily flow ≥80 mJ/cm2 (if porous membrane filtration was used) ≥50 mJ/cm2 (if semi-permeable membrane filtration was used) |
Continuous monitoring of lamp intensity, UV transmittance and flow rate |
||
|
Class C Reclaimed Water (concrete production, dust control, washing and processing aggregate) |
Municipal wastewater |
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) |
<30 mg/L (monthly average) 45 mg/L (single sample maximum) |
Weekly monitoring |
|
Total suspended solids (TSS) |
<30 mg/L (monthly average) 45 mg/L (single sample maximum) |
|||
|
Fecal coliform |
<200 organisms/100 mL (monthly average) 800 organisms/100 mL (single sample maximum) |
|||
|
Total chlorine residualb |
≥1.0 mg/L (maintained for a minimum contact time of 30 minutes at the design average flow) >0.02 mg/L (at point of reuse application) |
Continuous online monitoring |
||
|
UV light design dosec |
≥75 mJ/cm2 under maximum daily flow ≥60 mJ/cm2 (if porous membrane filtration was used) ≥40 mJ/cm2 (if semi-permeable membrane filtration was used) |
Continuous monitoring of lamp intensity, UV transmittance and flow rate |
Source = Pennsylvania DEP (2012)
* 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 Samples for all parameters, other than fecal coliform and disinfection byproducts, should be taken at the point of discharge from the treatment plant. Samples for fecal coliform and disinfection byproducts should be taken at the point of reuse.
b Only applies if chlorine was used for disinfection.
c Only applies if UV light was used for disinfection.
Upcoming state law or policy
No upcoming regulations pertaining to centralized non-potable reuse were found for Pennsylvania.
References:
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, 40 C.F.R. § 141.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). 2012. Reuse of Treated Wastewater Guidance Manual 385-2188-002.
Please contact us at waterreuse@epa.gov 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.