News in Water Reuse Regulations and Guidelines

Several states are actively working on their reuse regulations or guidelines. This page highlights some of these developments; however, it may not reflect all upcoming changes to state laws or policies. 

Please contact [email protected] if the information on this page needs updating or if a state is updating or planning to update its laws and policies and we have not included that information on this page. Please include a link to the relevant state website with the updated information.

Nationwide 

• The Federal Energy Management Program created a Rainwater Harvesting Regulations Map; this map provides a central location for state-level regulations on rainwater harvesting. 

Arizona

• In July 2024, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) released a draft rule for their Advanced Water Purification Program to establish regulations for direct potable reuse. This draft rule is the result of intensive stakeholder engagement that began in 2022. A 30-day public comment period ended in August 2024 and ADEQ will deliver a Notice of Final Rulemaking after reviewing, considering, and responding to the submitted comments. 

California

• In August 2024, the California Office of Administrative Law formally approved regulations for direct potable reuse that were adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board in December 2023. The effective date of the regulation is October 1 ,2024. California is now the second state, after Colorado, to adopt regulation for direct potable reuse
• The State Water Resources Control Board in the process of developing risk-based water quality standards for the onsite treatment and reuse of non-potable water for non-potable end uses in multifamily residential, commercial, and mixed use buildings. The board has stated that they are required to adopt regulations by December 1, 2022 and the Department of Housing and Community Development is required to propose necessary building standards by December 1, 2023. Formal rulemaking is intended to commence in 2024. 

Florida

• The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is undergoing a potable reuse rulemaking effort to address both direct and indirect potable reuse.  More information about draft rules and public meetings.

New Mexico

• The New Mexico Environmental Department (NMED) has proposed supplemental regulations for water reuse focused on the use of produced water from the oil and gas industry. This proposal is focused on how produced water can be used in projects provided that there is no discharge to surface or groundwater. Public hearings on this proposal are throughout 2024 and NMED is evaluating the potential for additional water reuse rules.

Washington

• The Washington Department of Health is considering adopting a new rule to establish water quality standards for onsite non-potable water reuse. This includes the onsite treatment and use of wastewater from all domestic fixtures, gray water, rainwater, stormwater, foundation drainage, and A/C condensate. More information on onsite non-potable water reuse.