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Uses of Recycled Water

Allowed in California

This summary is prepared by WateReuse Association, from the September 1998 draft of proposed Title-22 revisions and supersedes previous versions. Recycled water produced by South Bay Water Recycling meets disinfected tertiary treatment levels highlighted in the tables below.

Treatment Levels
Irrigation
Disinfected Tertiary Recycled Water
Disinfected Secondary-2.2 Recycled Water
Disinfected Secondary-23 Recycled Water
Undisinfected Secondary Recycled Water
Food crops where recycled water contacts the edible portion of the crop, including all root crops
Allowed
Not allowed
Not allowed
Not allowed
Parks and playgrounds
Allowed
Not allowed
Not allowed
Not allowed
School yards
Allowed
Not allowed
Not allowed
Not allowed
Residential landscaping
Allowed
Not allowed
Not allowed
Not allowed
Unrestricted access golf courses
Allowed
Not allowed
Not allowed
Not allowed
Any other irrigation uses not prohibited by other provisions of the California Code of Regulations
Allowed
Not allowed
Not allowed
Not allowed
Food crops where edible portion is produced above ground and not contacted by recycled water
Allowed
Allowed
Not allowed
Not allowed
Cemeteries
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Not allowed
Freeway landscaping
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Not allowed
Restricted access golf courses
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Not allowed
Ornamental nursery stock and sod farms
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Not allowed
Pasture for milk animals
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Not allowed
Nonedible vegetation with access control to prevent use as a park, playground or school yard
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Not allowed
Orchards with no contact between edible portion and recycled water
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Vineyards with no contact between edible portion and recycled water
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Non food-bearing trees, including Christmas trees not irrigated less than 14 days before harvest
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Fodder crops (e.g. alfalfa) and fiber crops (e.g. cotton)
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Seed crops not eaten by humans
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Food crops that undergo commercial pathogen-destroying processing before consumption by humans
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Ornamental nursery stock, sod farms not irrigated less than 14 days before harvest
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed

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Treatment Levels
Supply for Impoundment Disinfected Tertiary Recycled Water Disinfected Secondary-2.2 Recycled Water Disinfected Secondary-23 Recycled Water Undisinfected Secondary Recycled Water
Non-restricted recreational impoundments, with supplemental monitoring for pathogenic organisms
Allowed 2
Not allowed
Not allowed
Not allowed
Restricted recreational impoundments and publicly accessible fish hatcheries
Allowed
Allowed
Not allowed
Not allowed
Landscape impoundments without decorative fountains
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Not allowed

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Treatment Levels
Supply for Cooling or Air Conditioning Disinfected Tertiary Recycled Water Disinfected Secondary-2.2 Recycled Water Disinfected Secondary-23 Recycled Water Undisinfected Secondary Recycled Water
Industrial or commercial cooling or air conditioning involving cooling tower, evaporative condenser, or spraying that creates a mist

Allowed 3

Not allowed
Not allowed
Not allowed
Industrial or commercial cooling or air conditioning not involving a cooling tower, evaporative condenser, or spraying that creates a mist
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Not allowed

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Treatment Levels
Other Uses Disinfected Tertiary Recycled Water Disinfected Secondary-2.2 Recycled Water Disinfected Secondary-23 Recycled Water Undisinfected Secondary Recycled Water
Groundwater recharge
Allowed under special case-by-case permits
by RWQCBs
4
Flushing toilets and urinals Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Priming drain traps Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Industrial process water that may contact workers Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Structural fire fighting Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Decorative fountains Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Commercial laundries Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Consolidation of backfill material around potable water pipelines Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Artificial snow making for commercial outdoor uses Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Commercial car washes not done by hand & excluding the general public from washing process Allowed Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Industrial boiler feed Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Nonstructural fire fighting Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Backfill consolidation around nonpotable piping Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Soil compaction Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Mixing concrete Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Dust control on roads and streets Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Cleaning roads, sidewalks and outdoor work areas Allowed Allowed Allowed Not allowed
Flushing sanitary sewers Allowed Allowed Allowed Allowed

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1 Refer to the full text of the latest version of Title-22: California Water Recycling Criteria. This chart is only a guide to the September 1998 version.

2 With "conventional tertiary treatment." Additional monitoring for two years or more is necessary with direct filtration.

3 Drift Eliminators and/or biocides are required if public or employees can be exposed to mist.

4 Refer to Groundwater Recharge Guidelines, California Department of Health Services.

     

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