Summary of Massachusetts' 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 Massachusetts
- 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 Massachusetts, water reuse for water reuse for agricultureThe use of recycled water for production of both crops for human consumption and non-food crops of commercial value. This reuse application excludes consumption by livestock, onsite non-potable reuse, and landscaping. includes irrigation of food crops where there is or is not contact between the reclaimed water and the edible portion of the crop; irrigation of ornamental nursery stock and sod farms where access by the general public is restricted; irrigation on land used as pasture for milking animals; irrigation of orchards and vineyards where there is no contact between the reclaimed water and the edible portion of the crop; irrigation of processed food crops that, prior to sale to the public or others, undergo chemical or physical commercial processing sufficient to kill pathogens; silviculture. 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 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
Massachusetts approves the reuse of reclaimed wastewater for agriculture, including irrigation of processed and unprocessed food crops, orchards, vineyards and ornamental nurseries and land used as pasture as well as for silviculture (314 Mass. Code Regs. 20.00). All applicable provisions of the Clean Water Act (CWA) (33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.), including its implementing regulations, must be met. Additionally, commercial food crop growing operations may be subject 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 Massachusetts
314 Mass. Code Regs. 20.00 defines the following approved water reuse for agriculture:
- Irrigation of food crops where there is contact between the reclaimed water and the edible portion of the crop (Class A)
- Irrigation of ornamental nursery stock and sod farms where access by the general public is restricted (Class B)
- Irrigation on land used as pasture for milking animals (Class B)
- Irrigation of unprocessed food crops where there is no contact between the reclaimed water and the edible portion of the crop (Class B)
- Irrigation of orchards and vineyards where there is no contact between the reclaimed water and the edible portion of the crop (Class C)
- Irrigation of processed food crops that, prior to sale to the public or others, undergo chemical or physical commercial processing sufficient to kill pathogens (Class C)
- Silviculture (Class C)
Water reuse treatment category for agriculture
In Massachusetts, the various classes of treatment are assigned based on the potential for human contact, with Class A being the highest probability of human contact. The respective treatment requirements are briefly summarized (314 Mass. Code Regs. 20.00):
- For Class A reclaimed water, the reclaimed water must meet or exceed the Class A effluent limits defined in the table.
- For Class B reclaimed water, the reclaimed water must meet or exceed the Class B effluent limits defined in the table.
- For Class C reclaimed water, the reclaimed water must meet or exceed the Class C effluent limits defined in the table.
Additional context and definitions
Massachusetts defines reclaimed water as “wastewater that has been treated so that it is suitable for beneficial reuse in accordance with 314 CMR 20.00” (314 Mass. Code Regs. 20.00).
Massachusetts requires that all municipal reclaimed water plumbing and out-of-sight fixtures are colored purple and marked or stamped with the following warning every three feet or less: “NOTICE: RECLAIMED WATER – DO NOT DRINK” (314 Mass. Code Regs. 20.00). All areas at a reuse site that are accessible to the public, like reclaimed water valves, storage facilities and outlets, must have visible purple-colored public signs stating “NOTICE: RECLAIMED WATER – DO NOT DRINK” in English and any additional “locally employed language.” No cross connections are allowed between a reclaimed water system, a potable water system and all pipes conveying water for drinking, domestic and culinary purposes.
Water reuse for agriculture specifications
Summary of Massachusetts' Water Reuse for Agriculture Specifications
| Recycled Water Class/Category | Source Water Type | Water Quality Parameter | Specification | Sampling/Monitoring Requirements (Frequency of monitoring; site/ location of sample; quantification methods)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Class A (Irrigation of food crops where there is contact between the reclaimed water and the edible portion of the crop) |
Municipal wastewater |
pH |
6.5–8.5 |
Point of compliance is after the final treatment process and prior to the point of discharge |
|
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) |
<10 mg/L |
|||
|
Total suspended solids (TSS) |
<5 mg/L |
|||
|
Turbidity |
<2 NTU (24-hour average) 5 NTU (cannot exceed more than 5% of time for 24-hour period) 10 NTU (cannot exceed at any time) |
|||
|
Total nitrogena |
<10 mg/L |
|||
|
Fecal coliformb |
No detectable fecal coliform/100 mL (median over continuous 7-day sampling period) ≤14/100 mL (single sample maximum) |
|||
|
Phosphorusa |
May be established on a case-by-case basis |
Not specified |
||
|
Class B (Irrigation of ornamental nursery stock and sod farms where access by the general public is restricted; Irrigation on land used as pasture for milking animals; Irrigation of unprocessed food crops where there is no contact between the reclaimed water and the edible portion of the crop) |
Municipal wastewater |
pH |
6.5–8.5 |
Point of compliance is after the final treatment process and prior to the point of discharge |
|
5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) |
<30 mg/L |
|||
|
Total suspended solids (TSS) |
<10 mg/L |
|||
|
Total nitrogena |
<10 mg/L |
|||
|
Fecal coliformb |
≤14 coliform/100 mL (median over continuous 7-day sampling period) ≤100/100 mL (single sample maximum) |
|||
|
Phosphorusa |
May be established on a case-by-case basis |
Not specified |
||
|
Class C (Irrigation of orchards and vineyards where there is no contact between the reclaimed water and the edible portion of the crop; Irrigation of processed food crops that, prior to sale to the public or others, undergo chemical or physical commercial processing sufficient to kill pathogens; Silviculture) |
Municipal wastewater |
pH |
6.5–8.5 |
Point of compliance is after the final treatment process and prior to the point of discharge |
|
5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) |
<30 mg/L |
|||
|
Total suspended solids (TSS) |
<30 mg/L |
|||
|
Total nitrogena |
<10 mg/L |
|||
|
Fecal coliform |
≤200 coliform/100 mL (median; sampling period not specified) |
|||
|
Phosphorusa |
May be established on a case-by-case basis |
Not specified |
Source= 314 Mass. Code Regs. 20.00
* 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 The Department may establish a limit on phosphorus and/or establish a limit on total nitrogen that is more stringent than 10 mg/L to maintain or achieve compliance with Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards and/or to protect the actual or potential use of the groundwater as a source of potable water.
b The specifications for fecal coliforms allow for the occasional excursion, but mandates a low limit that must be maintained for Class A recycled water where there is a high probability of human contact.
Upcoming state law or policy
No upcoming regulations pertaining to water reuse for agriculture were found for Massachusetts.
References
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.
Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), 124 Stat. 3885.
Reclaimed Water Permit Program and Standards, 314 Mass. Code Regs. 20.00.
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.