The Massachusetts Reclaimed Water Program Experience and New - PDF document

The Massachusetts Reclaimed Water Program Experience and New Initiatives Stressed Basins Low flow in our rivers and streams National Water Use Reclaimed Water Use Goals • 32% agricultural, recreational, • Reduce stress on over-used water resource commercial, and industrial use areas • 28% toilet flushing • Provide a safe and affordable water source • 23% bathing for uses other than directly potable • 14% for laundry and • Increase public awareness and promote dishwashing acceptance • 3% drinking and cooking • Promote advancement of I/A technology 1

Reclaimed Water: Massachusetts Regulatory Approach Allowable Uses • Initial guidelines developed in 1999 • Golf courses – spray irrigation • Hybrid of other state programs & • Landscaping – nurseries requirements • Toilet flushing • Rigorous water quality criteria • Artificially recharging aquifers • Best Management Practices (BMPs) • Enforceable contractual agreements • Public awareness Pilot Program • Evaluate uses not specifically listed in guideline � Drip irrigation � Powerplant process and cooling water � Automated car wash Representative Standards for Treatment Plant Criteria Reclaimed Water • Must meet specific water quality Fecal Land Use Turbidity (NTU) Coliform/100 ml criteria/monitoring Median ND*, • Must have permitted alternative Urban Reuse <2 max 14-7 day sample discharge site for golf course and Toilet Flushing <5 Max 100 landscaping use <2 Median ND*, • Must have Class 1 reliability and Aquifer recharge max 14-7 day sample redundancy <5 Max 200 • Must have contractual agreement ND* = non-detectable 2

Artificial Aquifer Recharge • Groundwater discharge into an approved Zone II is considered reuse • Zone II boundary alteration • Time of travel evaluation – treated water DO NOT DRIN DO NOT DRINK quality criteria • Zone II Nitrogen Loading Model • Monitoring of groundwater Challenges New Program • Balancing Act • MassDEP developing new regulations � Cost – WWTP & Monitoring � 2003: Study by CH2M HILL � Public Health � 2004: EPA Water Reuse Guidelines • Public Perception � 2005: Task force • Public apathy � Our Experience • Victim of our own technology � Analysis of emerging pollutants MassDEP Task Force Proposed New Uses • Local officials • Irrigation of fields, playgrounds, and ballparks • Consultants • Residential irrigation • Environmental groups • Crop irrigation • Industry representatives • Powerplants • MassDEP personnel • Industrial Uses 3

MassDEP Contact Schedule • Task force meetings Alan Slater • Draft regulations by summer 2006 1 Winter Street Boston, MA 02108 t: 617.292.5749 e: alan.slater@state.ma.us http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/wastewat.htm 4