Summary of Pennsylvania's Water Reuse Guideline or Regulation for Environmental Restoration
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 environmental restoration approved for use in Pennsylvania
- Water reuse treatment category for environmental restoration
- Additional context and definitions
- Water reuse for environmental restoration 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, water reused for environmental restorationThe use of recycled water to create, sustain, or augment water bodies including wetlands, aquatic habitats, or stream flow. Includes groundwater or aquifer recharge for protection from saltwater intrusion , stream flow augmentation and wildlife habitat, and source water protection. include saltwater intrusion barriers via certain methods and wetlands under certain circumstances. 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
Pennsylvania approves the use of reclaimed wastewater for reuse applications related to environmental restoration as a saltwater intrusion barrier, to enhance natural wetlands, to create man-made wetlands and to sustain or augment stream flows. 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 for environmental restoration-related applications and are summarized in the table. Pennsylvania’s drinking water standards were used as technical basis for developing the specifications and/or removals of microbial contaminants, chemicals and other relevant indicators for Class A+ and Class A reclaimed water (25 Pa. Code § 109). Environmental restoration projects, including stream or wetland augmentation (Class C reclaimed water), are subject to Pennsylvania’s NPDES requirements and may require a NPDES permit to ensure adequate surface water protection (25 Pa. Code § 92a).
Water reuse for environmental restoration approved for use in Pennsylvania
- As a saltwater intrusion barrier via direct injection (Class A+)
- As a saltwater intrusion barrier via surface spreading (Class A)
- To enhance natural wetlands, to create man-made wetlands that can be used as wildlife habitat and to sustain or augment stream flows. In Pennsylvania, these uses typically create a habitat in which wildlife can thrive, or to develop/enhance an area of recreational or aesthetic value to the community (Class C)
Water reuse treatment category for environmental restoration
In Pennsylvania, the various classes of reclaimed water treatment are defined by their respective treatment requirements and applicable performance standards.
- For Class A+ reclaimed water, the minimum treatment is secondary treatment, nitrification, denitrification, coagulation, filtration, reverse osmosis treatment, disinfection and any other advanced treatment processes necessary to meet the standards specified in the table.
- In cases where UV light is used for disinfection, a dose of ≥50 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 A reclaimed water, the minimum treatment is secondary treatment, nitrification, denitrification, filtration and disinfection.
- 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 (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.
Water reuse for environmental restoration specifications
Summary of Pennsylvania's Water Reuse for Environmental Restoration 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 (Saltwater intrusion barrier via direct injection) |
Municipal wastewater |
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) |
<2 mg/L (monthly average) 5 mg/L (maximum) |
Monitoring 2/week |
|
Total organic carbon (TOC) |
< 1 mg/L (monthly average) |
Monitoring 2/week |
||
|
Turbidity |
≤ 0.3 NTU (monthly average) 1 NTU (maximum) |
Continuous monitoring |
||
|
Fecal coliform |
<2.2 organisms per 100 mL (monthly average) 23 organisms per 100 mL (maximum) |
Monitoring 2/week |
||
|
Total organic halides (TOX) |
<0.2 mg/L (monthly average) |
Monitoring 2/week |
||
|
Total nitrogen |
<10 mg/L (monthly average) |
Monitoring 2/week |
||
|
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 design average flow) >0.02 mg/L (at the point of reuse application) |
Continuous on-line monitoring |
||
|
UV light design dosec |
≥ 50 mJ/cm2 |
Continuous monitoring of lamp intensity, UV transmittance and flow rate |
||
|
Class A Reclaimed Water (Saltwater intrusion barrier via surface spreading) |
Municipal wastewater |
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) |
<2 mg/L (monthly average) 5 mg/L (maximum) |
Weekly monitoring |
|
Total organic carbon (TOC) |
<10 mg/L (monthly average) |
Weekly monitoring |
||
|
Turbidity |
≤ 2 NTU (monthly average) 5 NTU (maximum) |
Continuous monitoring |
||
|
Fecal coliform |
<2.2 organisms per 100 mL (monthly average) 23 organisms per 100 mL (maximum) |
Monitoring 2/week |
||
|
Total organic halides (TOX) |
<0.2 mg/L (monthly average) |
Weekly monitoring |
||
|
Total nitrogen |
<10 mg/L (monthly average) |
Weekly monitoring |
||
|
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 design average flow) >0.02 mg/L (at the point of reuse application) |
Continuous on-line monitoring |
||
|
UV light design dosec |
≥ 100 mJ/cm2 (for granular media filtration) ≥ 80 mJ/cm2 (for porous membrane filtration) ≥ 50 mJ/cm2 (for semi-permeable membrane filtration) |
Continuous monitoring of lamp intensity, UV transmittance and flow rate |
||
|
Class C Reclaimed Water (Enhancement of natural wetlands; Creation of man-made wetlands used as wildlife habitat; Stream flow augmentation or sustainment) |
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 If chlorine is used for disinfection.
c If UV light is used for disinfection.
Upcoming state law or policy
No upcoming environmental restoration reuse regulations were found for Pennsylvania.
References
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permitting, Monitoring and Compliance, 25 Pa. Code § 92a.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). 2012. Point and Nonpoint Source Management. Reuse of treated wastewater guidance manual 385-2188-002.
Safe Drinking Water, 25 Pa. Code § 109.
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.