Summary of New Mexico's Water Reuse Guideline or Regulation for Impoundments
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 impoundments approved for use in New Mexico
- Water reuse treatment category for impoundments
- Additional context and definitions
- Water reuse for impoundments 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 New Mexico, water reused for impoundmentsThe use of recycled water in an impoundment (body of water within an enclosure). This includes both unrestricted (use of reclaimed water in an impoundment in which no limitations are imposed on body-contact water recreation activities) and restricted (use of reclaimed water in an impoundment where body contact is restricted). Includes recreational impoundments, aesthetic impoundments, and ornamental impoundments with and without public access. Excludes landscape impoundments and storage of recycled water intended for other specific reuse applications (e.g., for agricultural irrigation). include recreational impoundments. 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
The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) provides guidance for the above ground reuse of reclaimed domestic wastewater to “ensure protection of public health and the environment” (NMED 2007). 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 impoundments and are summarized in the table. The technical basis for developing the specifications and/or removals of microbial contaminants, chemicals and other relevant indicators is based on approaches and limits established in other states (e.g., Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Texas and Washington), NPDES permit limits and related surface water limits established in N.M. Stat. § 20-6-4.
Water reuse for impoundments approved for use in New Mexico
NMED (2007) defines the following approved water reuse for impoundments:
- Recreational impoundments (Class 1B)
Water reuse treatment category for impoundments
The various classes of reclaimed wastewater are defined by their respective treatment requirements and applicable performance standards.
- Class 1B reclaimed wastewater requires a minimum of conventional secondary wastewater treatment plus disinfection and a fecal coliform specification of 100 organisms/100 mL monthly average and 200 organisms/100 mL single sample maximum.
Additional context and definitions
In New Mexico, reclaimed water is defined as “domestic wastewater that has been treated to the specified levels for the defined uses set forth in this guidance document and other applicable local, state, or federal regulations” (NMED 2007). Domestic wastewater is defined as “wastewater containing human excreta and water-carried waste from typical residential plumbing fixtures and activities, including but not limited to wastes from toilets, sinks, bath fixtures, clothes or dishwashing machines and floor drains” (NMED 2007). New Mexico requires all municipal reclaimed wastewater piping, valves and outlets to be colored purple to differentiate it from piping or fixtures used for potable or other water (NMED 2007). Reclaimed wastewater systems should have no indirect or direct cross connections with potable water systems. Signs in English and Spanish stating “NOTICE – THIS AREA IS IRRIGATED WITH RECLAIMED WASTEWATER – DO NOT DRINK” must be placed at the entrance to areas receiving reclaimed wastewater and other locations where public access may occur.
Water reuse for impoundments specifications
Summary of New Mexico's Water Reuse for Impoundments Specifications
| Recycled Water Class/Category (Approved Uses) | Source Water Type | Water Quality Parameter | Specification | Sampling/Monitoring Requirements (Frequency of monitoring; site/ location of sample; quantification methods)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Class 1B Reclaimed Wastewater (Recreational impoundments) |
Domestic wastewater |
5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) |
30 mg/L (30-day average) 45 mg/L (single sample maximum) |
Minimum of 6-hour composite; 3 tests per week for major WWTPa; 1 test per 2 weeks for minor WWTP |
|
Total suspended solids (TSS) |
30 mg/L (30-day average) 45 mg/L (single sample maximum) |
|||
|
Fecal coliformb |
100 organisms/100 mL (30-day average) 200 organisms/100 mL (single sample maximum) |
Grab sample at peak flow; 3 tests per week for major WWTPa; 1 test per week for minor WWTP |
||
|
Total residual chlorine (TRC) or UV transmissivity |
None, monitor only |
Grab sample or reading at peak flow; Record values at peak hourly flow when fecal coliform samples are collected |
||
|
Total nitrogenc |
Not to exceed 200 pounds per acre per year |
Not specified |
||
|
Phosphorus |
None |
None |
Source= NMED 2007 and N.M. Code R. § 20.6.2.3109.C(3)
* 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 A “major” WWTP has a maximum design capacity of 1 million gallons or more per day. A “minor” WWTP has a maximum design capacity of less than 1 million gallons per day.
bE. coli may be used in place of fecal coliform as an indicator organism once an equivalency has been established.
c If the reclaimed wastewater contains total nitrogen > 10 mg/L, the reuse permittee must submit a Land Application Data Sheet (LADS) to ensure they will not exceed loading of 200 pounds per acre per year.
Upcoming state law or policy
NMED has proposed supplemental requirements for water reuse (20.6.8 NMAC) including produced water and will accept public comment through December 1, 2023.
References
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.
New Mexico Environment Department. 2007. Ground water quality bureau guidance: Above-ground use of reclaimed domestic wastewater, New Mexico Environment Department. 2007.
Secretary Approval, Disapproval, Modification or Termination of Discharge Permits, and Requirement for Abatement Plans, N.M. Code R. § 20.6.2.3109.C(3).
Standards for Interstate and Intrastate Surface Waters, N.M. Code R. § 20.6.4.
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.