Summary of North Carolina's Water Reuse Guideline or Regulation for Agriculture
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 agriculture approved for use in North Carolina
- Water reuse treatment category for agriculture
- Additional context and definitions
- Water reuse for agriculture 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 water reuse for agricultureThe use of recycled water to land to assist in the production of both commercially and non-commercially processed food crops consumed by humans or livestock and non-food crops. Includes pasture for milking and non-milking animals, fodder, fiber, and seed crops, vineyards, orchards, ornamental nursery stock, Christmas trees, and silviculture. Excludes consumption by livestock, onsite non-potable reuse, and landscaping. includes direct or indirect contact irrigation of food chain crops that will or will not be peeled, skinned, cooked or thermally processed before consumption. 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. 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
North Carolina approves the use of reclaimed water for beneficial use, including water reuse for agriculture. Beneficial use applications related to agriculture include irrigation of food chain crops and ornamental crops (15A N.C. Admin Code 02U.0100). 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 relevant rule requirements under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) (124 Stat. 3885). Treatment requirements and performance standards are applied for the removal of microbial contaminants, chemicals and other relevant indicators related to agriculture 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 not explicitly specified.
Water reuse for agriculture approved for use in North Carolina
15A N.C. Admin Code 02U.0100 defines the following approved water reuse for agriculture:
- Direct or indirect contact irrigation of food chain crops that will be peeled, skinned, cooked or thermally processed before consumption (Type 1)
- Crops irrigated by direct contact with reclaimed water shall not be harvested within 24 hours of irrigation with Type 1 reclaimed water
- Indirect contact irrigation of food chain crops that will not be peeled, skinned, cooked or thermally processed before consumption (Type 2)
North Carolina does not allow the use of reclaimed water for direct contact irrigation of food chain crops that will not be peeled, skinned, cooked or thermally processed before consumption (15A N.C. Admin Code 02U.0100). However, upon request, North Carolina authorizes “demonstration projects to collect and present data related to the direct application of reclaimed water on crops that are not peeled, skinned, cooked or thermally processed before consumption. Crops produced during such demonstration projects may be used as animal feed or may be thermally processed, cooked or otherwise prepared for human consumption in a manner approved by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services” (15A N.C. Admin Code 02U.0100).
Water reuse treatment category for agriculture
The two types of reclaimed water (Type 1 and Type 2) are differentiated by their specific treatment requirements, chemical contaminant and microbiological removal requirements (15A N.C. Admin Code 02U.0100):
- 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.
- Type 2 reclaimed water treatment facilities must provide dual disinfection systems containing UV disinfection and chlorination or equivalent dual disinfection processes to meet pathogen control requirements. Type 2 reclaimed water treatment facilities must demonstrate that the combined treatment and disinfection processes are capable of the following reduction targets:
- ≥log 6 reduction of E. coli
- ≥log 5 reduction of coliphage
- ≥log 4 reduction of Clostridium perfringens
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).
Type 1 reclaimed water can be used for both direct and indirect contact irrigation whereas Type 2 reclaimed water is primarily used for indirect contact irrigation. Direct contact irrigation means application methods that result in the direct contact of reclaimed water on the portion of the crop intended for human consumption (15A N.C. Admin Code 02U.0100). Indirect contact irrigation means application methods that preclude direct contact of reclaimed water on the portion of the crop intended for human consumption (15A N.C. Admin Code 02U.0100).
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 connection has been approved by the state. Irrigation system piping is considered part of the distribution system” (15A N.C. Admin Code 02U.0100).
Water reuse for agriculture specifications
Summary of North Carolina's Water Reuse for Agriculture Specifications
Recycled Water Class/Category | Source Water Type | Water Quality Parameter | Specification | Sampling/Monitoring Requirementsa (Frequency of monitoring; site/ location of sample; quantification methodsb) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Type 1 (Direct or indirect contact irrigation of food chain crops that will be peeled, skinned, cooked or thermally processed before consumption; Crops irrigated by direct contact with reclaimed water shall not be harvested within 24 hours of irrigation) |
Municipal wastewater |
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. colia |
≤14 organisms/100 mL (monthly geometric mean) ≤25 organisms/100 mL (daily maximum) |
Daily |
||
Turbidity |
≤10 NTU |
Not specified |
||
Total nitrogen |
4 mg/L |
Not specified |
||
Total phosphorus |
1 mg/L |
Not specified |
||
Fecal coliforma |
≤14 organisms/100 mL (monthly geometric mean) ≤25 organisms/100 mL (daily maximum) |
Daily |
||
Type 2 (Indirect contact irrigation of food chain crops that will not be peeled, skinned, cooked or thermally processed before consumption) |
Municipal wastewater |
5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) |
≤5 mg/L (monthly average) ≤10 mg/L (daily maximum) |
Daily |
Total suspended solids (TSS) |
≤5 mg/L (monthly average) ≤10 mg/L (daily maximum) |
Daily |
||
Ammonia (NH3-N) |
≤1 mg/L (monthly average) ≤2 mg/L (daily maximum) |
Daily |
||
E. colia |
≤14 organisms/100 mL (monthly geometric mean) ≤25 organisms/100 mL (daily maximum) |
Daily |
||
Coliphages (type not specified) |
≤5 organisms/100 mL (monthly geometric mean) ≤25 organisms/100 mL (daily maximum) |
Daily |
||
Clostridium perfringens |
≤5 organisms/100 mL (monthly geometric mean) ≤25 organisms/100 mL (daily maximum) |
Daily |
||
Fecal coliforma |
≤14 organisms/100 mL (monthly geometric mean) ≤25 organisms/100 mL (daily maximum) |
Daily |
||
Turbidity |
≤5 NTU |
Not specified |
||
Nitrogen |
Not specified |
Not specified |
||
Phosphorus |
Not specified |
Not specified |
Source= 15A N.C. Admin Code 02U.0100
* 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 In reclaimed water effluent intended to be used for agricultural reuse applications, E. coli or fecal coliforms should be measured with the corresponding specifications met prior to storage, distribution or utilization.
Upcoming state law or policy
No upcoming regulations pertaining to water reuse for agriculture were found for North Carolina.
References
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.
Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), 124 Stat. 3885.
Reclaimed Water General Requirements, 15A N.C. Admin Code 02U.0100.
Reclaimed Water Systems, 15A N.C. Admin. Code § 02T.0901.
Water Reuse; Policy; Rulemaking, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-355.5 (2022).
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.