Summary of North Carolina's Water Reuse Guideline or Regulation for Industrial Process Water for Industry
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 Industrial Process Water.
On this page:
- Technical basis
- Water reuse industrial applications approved for use in North Carolina
- Water reuse treatment category for industrial applications
- Additional context and definitions
- Water reuse for industrial applications 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 North Carolina, water reuse for industryThe use of recycled water for industrial applications, often created at the industrial facility. This includes recycled water generated through onsite processes such as boiler water, cooling water, manufacturing water, and oil and gas production, as well as recycled water generated offsite and imported elsewhere for industrial reuse applications. reuse applications include process water, concrete production, cooling water, industrial toilet flush and industrial fire prevention systems. The source of water industry process water Water produced during industrial and manufacturing processes. Other terms referring to this source of water include air handling condensate, boiler, cooling or wash water, and water generated during oil and natural gas extraction. is specified by the state as reclaimed water produced from industrial facilities. 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
North Carolina approves the use of industry process water for beneficial use, including water reuse for industry. Beneficial use applications related to industry reuse purposes include concrete production, cooling water, process water, industrial toilet flushing and industrial fire prevention systems (15A N.C. Admin Code). 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. In North Carolina, a permit is required from the North Carolina Division of Water Quality Aquifer Protection Section, Land Application Unit to treat and produce industrial process water (15A N.C. Admin Code § 02U). Treatment requirements and performance standards are applied for the removal of debris, microbial contaminants, chemicals and other relevant indicators related to industry reuse and are summarized in the table. The technical basis for developing the specifications and/or removal of debris, microbial contaminants, chemicals and other relevant indicators is not explicitly specified.
Water reuse industrial applications approved for use in North Carolina
15A N.C. Admin Code § 02U as well as the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCEQ, 2023) defines the following approved industry water reuse applications:
- Process water
- Industrial toilet flushing systems where there are separate, non-potable plumbing lines
- Industrial fire prevention systems where there are separate, non-potable plumbing lines
- Concrete production
- Cooling water
15A N.C. Admin Code § 02U defines industry process water used for industrial application to meet the requirements for Type 1 reclaimed water, unless the industry reclaimed water is used at the facility that the water is collected, has no public access and has potential risk for employee exposure. Additional industry reuse applications for collected treated municipal wastewater are not specified.
Water reuse treatment category for industrial applications
15A N.C. Admin Code § 02U defines industry process water used for industrial processes to meet the requirements for Type 1 reclaimed water.
Treatment requirements are not specified for Type 1 reclaimed water, but for treated effluent to be categorized as Type 1, the parameter limits provided in the table must be met. However, if the industry process water is used internally in an industrial process and the area of use has no public access and does not result in employee exposure, then the industry process water is exempt from type 1 effluent standards and no parameter limits are specified (15A N.C. Admin Code § 02U).
Additional context and definitions
North Carolina defines beneficial reuse as the utilization of reclaimed water in a beneficial manner and for the purpose of conservation of the State’s water resources by reducing the use of other potable water, surface water and groundwater resources (15A N.C. Admin Code 02U.0100). Reclaimed water is defined as treated wastewater effluent meeting the required effluent standards and used for beneficial reuse (15A N.C. Admin Code § 02U.0100).
For reclaimed or recycled water generated from industrial wastewater, North Carolina requires a chemical analysis to be performed, and a subsequent list to be provided, of any toxic pollutant that the applicate uses, manufactures and/or is a final product or byproduct. 15A N.C. Admin Code § 02U provides a list of 20 parameters that new facilities must analyze for within their source, intermediate or effluent waters.
North Carolina requires reclaimed water to be distributed through “pipes and appurtenances that are either colored purple (Pantone 522 or equivalent) and embossed or integrally stamped or marked ‘CAUTION: RECLAIMED WATER – DO NOT DRINK’ or installed with a purple (Pantone 522 or equivalent) identification tape or polyethylene vinyl wrap. The warning must be stamped on opposite sides of the pipe and repeated every three feet or less.” The “identification tape must be at least three inches wide and have white or black lettering on purple (Pantone 522 or equivalent) field stating ‘CAUTION: RECLAIMED WATER – DO NOT DRINK.’ Identification tape shall be installed on top of reclaimed water pipelines, fastened at least every 10 feet to each pipe length and run continuously the entire length of the pipe. Existing underground distribution systems retrofitted for the purpose of conveying reclaimed water shall be taped or otherwise identified. This identification need not extend the entire length of the distribution system but shall be incorporated within 10 feet of crossing any potable water supply line or sanitary sewer line.” No direct cross-connections between the reclaimed water and potable waters systems are permitted, unless such connections have been approved by the state. Irrigation system piping is considered part of the distribution system (15A N.C. Admin Code § 02U.0100).
The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCENR) has an established Water Efficiency Manual to support the safe and sustainable use of treated municipal wastewater as well as provide foundation of the basis of specifications (NCENR, 2009).
Water reuse for industrial applications specifications
Summary of North Carolina’s Water Reuse for Industrial Applications Reuse 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)a |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Type 1 (concrete production, cooling water, process water, industrial toilet flushing and industrial fire prevention systems) |
Industrial process water |
5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) |
≤10 mg/L (monthly average) ≤15 mg/L (daily maximum) |
Daily |
|
Total suspended solids (TSS) |
≤5 mg/L (monthly average) ≤10 mg/L (daily maximum) |
Daily |
||
|
Ammonia (NH3-N) |
≤4 mg/L (monthly average) ≤6 mg/L (daily maximum) |
Daily |
||
|
E. coli |
≤14 organisms/100 mL (monthly geometric mean) ≤25 organisms/100 mL (daily maximum) |
Daily |
||
|
Fecal coliform |
≤14 organisms/100 mL (monthly geometric mean) ≤25 organisms/100 mL (daily maximum) |
Daily |
||
|
Turbidity |
10 NTUs |
Not specified |
||
|
Total Nitrogenb |
4 mg/L |
Not specified |
||
|
Total Phosphorousb |
1 mg/L |
Not specified |
Source = 15A N.C. Admin Code § 02U.
a 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 regulations.
b Applies to Type 1 reclaimed water discharged to wetlands. Requirement remains applicable unless net environmental benefits are provided.
Upcoming state law or policy
No upcoming regulations pertaining to water reuse for industry were found for North Carolina.
References
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.
North Carolina Administrative Code (NCAC) Title 15A Environmental Quality, 15A N.C. Admin Code.
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR). 2009. Water Efficiency Manual.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ). 2023. Water Reuse & Reclamation.
Reclaimed Water, 15A N.C. Admin Code § 02U.
Water Resources, 38 N.C. Admin Code. §143 355.5.
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.