Summary of New Mexico's Water Reuse Guideline or Regulation for Landscaping
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 landscaping approved for use in New Mexico
- Water reuse treatment category for landscaping
- Additional context and definitions
- Water reuse for landscaping 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 reuse for water reuse for landscapingThe use of recycled water on land to assist in the irrigation of vegetation in residential and non-residential areas. Includes impoundments to store water for irrigation , ornamental vegetation, parks, school yards, sporting facilities (including golf courses), private gardens, roadsides and greenbelts, and cemeteries. Excludes irrigation of areas used for agriculture, commercial reuse applications, or any centralized non-potable reuse. includes spray irrigation, flood irrigation and surface drip irrigation of parks, school yards, golf courses and urban landscaping. 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 domestic wastewater. This 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
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. Class 1B reclaimed wastewater is approved for water reuse for landscaping, including ornamental impoundments, spray irrigation, flood irrigation and surface drip irrigation of parks, school yards, golf courses and urban landscaping. The use of Class 1B reclaimed wastewater is permitted in areas where public exposure is likely if the associated setback requirements are met. Treatment requirements and performance standards are applied for the removal of microbial contaminants, chemicals and other relevant indicators for water reuse for landscaping 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 landscaping approved for use in New Mexico
NMED (2007) defines the following approved water reuse for landscaping:
- Spray irrigation, flood irrigation and surface drip irrigation of parks, school yards, golf courses (Class 1B)
- Spray irrigation, flood irrigation and surface drip irrigation of urban landscaping (Class 1B)
- Ornamental impoundments (Class 1B)
Water reuse treatment category for landscaping
The various classes of reclaimed water treatment are defined by their respective treatment requirements and applicable performance standards (NMED, 2007).
- Class 1B reclaimed wastewater is suitable for uses in which public exposure is likely. However, the application of reclaimed wastewater using spray irrigation, flood irrigation or surface drip irrigation is advised to take place at times when public exposure is unlikely. It requires a minimum of conventional secondary wastewater treatment plus disinfection.
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).
In New Mexico, ornamental impoundments are, for example, at golf courses and parks. NMED defines recreational impoundments to mean, for example, the water hazards at a golf course.
Application of Class 1B reclaimed wastewater is permitted for spray irrigation and requires that a minimum 100-foot setback distance be maintained between any dwellings or occupied establishments and the edge of the reuse area. Irrigation using reclaimed domestic wastewater should also be postponed at times when windy conditions may result in drift of reclaimed wastewater outside the reuse area (NMED 2007). Reclaimed domestic wastewater should be applied at times and in a manner that minimizes public contact (e.g., during times of limited activity or specific times of day) and via low trajectory spray nozzles (NMED 2007).
Class 1B reclaimed wastewater has the following public access restrictions and setback requirements for irrigation as defined in Table 3 of NMED (2007):
- Spray irrigation: No public access control, no setback to dwelling unit or occupied establishment and a low pressure/low trajectory irrigation system only.
- Flood irrigation and surface drip irrigation: No public access control.
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 landscaping specifications
Summary of New Mexico's Water Reuse for Landscaping 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 Water (Irrigation of parks, school yards, golf courses and urban landscaping; ornamental 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.
EPA-Administered Permit Programs: The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), 40 C.F.R. part 122.
New Mexico Environment Department (NMED). 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.