Summary of Minnesota'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 Minnesota
• 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 Minnesota, water reuse for agriculture water reuse for agricultureThe use of recycled water for production of both crops for human consumption and non-food crops of commercial value. This reuse application excludes consumption by livestock, onsite non-potable reuse, and landscaping. includes food crops where the recycled water contacts the edible portion of the crop, pasture for animals producing milk for human consumption; ornamental nursery stock and sod farms with restricted access; fodder, fiber and seed crops; orchards and vineyards with no contact between the edible portion; and food crops not for human consumption, non-food bearing trees, nursery stock and sod farms not irrigated less than 14 days before harvest. 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 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

Minnesota approves the reuse of treated municipal wastewater for the irrigation of agricultural crops, grassland, or forests, though the permitting of reuse is not codified in state statutes or laws. Irrigation using treated municipal wastewater is not permitted in winter. 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 relevant rule requirements under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) (124 Stat. 3885). Minnesota states that “reuse activities are categorized based on public access and the risk for the potential for human exposure with the effluent” (MPCA 2010). Restrictions on public access and associated treatment requirements are specified for the use of reclaimed water for spray irrigation. Treatment requirements are based on the type of reuse and respective performance standards. Respective performance standards are based on detectable total coliforms in finished water destined for water reuse for agriculture. Minnesota uses California’s Title 22 Water Recycling Criteria (Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22) as the technical basis for the derivation of total coliform removals and turbidity requirements (defined in the table).

The basis for the state guidance is as follows: “Since 1992, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has used the State of California Regulations as guidance for the permitting of wastewater reuse” because California was one of the first states to develop detailed regulations to ensure that the reuse of wastewater would be protective of human health (MPCA, 2010). “The required level and type of treatment is based on the type of reuse and establishes the total coliform bacteria that are allowed to be detected in the final treated water. Total coliform is used for the regulation of wastewater reuse rather than fecal coliform. A total coliform limit is more restrictive than a fecal coliform limit and is used as an additional safety measure” (MPCA, 2010).

Water reuse for agriculture approved for use in Minnesota

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA, 2010) defines the following approved water reuse for agriculture, which consists of the irrigation of:

• Food crops where the recycled water contacts the edible portion of the crop, including root crops (Disinfected Tertiary)
• Pasture for animals producing milk for human consumption (Disinfected Secondary 23)
• Ornamental nursery stock and sod farms with restricted access (Disinfected Secondary 23)
• Fodder, fiber, seed crops (Disinfected Secondary 200)
• Orchards and vineyards with no contact between the edible portion (Disinfected Secondary 200)
• Food crops not for human consumption not irrigated less than 14 days before harvest (Disinfected Secondary 200)
• Non-food bearing trees (e.g., Christmas trees), nursery stock and sod farms not irrigated less than 14 days before harvest (Disinfected Secondary 200)

Water reuse treatment category for agriculture

The treatment requirements for municipal wastewater are briefly summarized for agriculture:

• “Disinfected Tertiary”: Tertiary treatment with disinfection is required. Prior to disinfection, effluent must undergo secondary treatment and filtration. 
• “Disinfected Secondary 23”: Secondary treatment with disinfection is required. “Disinfected Secondary 200”: Secondary treatment with disinfection is required.

Minnesota states that the use of a stabilization pond system with 210 days of storage for treatment does not require a separate disinfection process.

Additional context and definitions

In areas where recycled water is used, signs must be posted that state that the water used is recycled, nonpotable and not fit for consumption (MPCA, 2010). No physical connection is allowed between any recycled wastewater source and a potable water source. Hose bibs cannot be installed in areas accessible by the general public (MPCA, 2010). Only quick connect couplers that differ from those used on the potable water system can be used on the recycled wastewater (MPCA, 2010). Spray irrigation, other than disinfected tertiary water, cannot occur within 100 feet of a residence, park, playground, school, or other area with similar public exposure (MPCA, 2010).

Water reuse for agriculture specifications

Summary of Minnesota's Water Reuse for Agriculture Specifications

Source= MPCA (2010)

* 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.

Upcoming state law or policy

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

References

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

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

Minnesota Department of Health. 2018. Advancing Safe and Sustainable Water Reuse in Minnesota: 2018 Report of the Interagency Workgroup on Water Reuse.

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). 2010. Municipal Wastewater Reuse.

Water Recycling Criteria, Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22.

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Disclaimers

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.