Summary of New Mexico's Water Reuse Guideline or Regulation for Consumption by Livestock
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 consumption by livestock approved for use in New Mexico
- Water reuse treatment category for consumption by livestock
- Additional context and definitions
- Water reuse for consumption by livestock 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 New Mexico, water reuse for water reuse for consumption by livestock The use of recycled water for livestock drinking water supplies. Excludes physical application of reclaimed water to pasture for milking and non-milking animals, forage crops used as animal feed, and land used for livestock grazing. includes livestock watering. 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 domestic wastewater. The write-up below 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
The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) provides guidance for the above ground reuse of reclaimed domestic wastewater to “ensure protection of public health and the environment” (NMED, 2007). Class 2 reclaimed wastewater is approved for water reuse for consumption by livestock in areas where public access is restricted. 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 state water quality standards. Treatment requirements and performance standards are applied for the removal of microbial contaminants, chemicals and other relevant indicators related to consumption by livestock and are summarized in the table. New Mexico developed their specifications and/or removals of microbial contaminants, chemicals and other relevant indicators based on a comparison to other state reuse approaches (Colorado, Arizona, Texas, Washington and Florida), NPDES limits (40 C.F.R. part 122) and related New Mexico surface water limits (N.M. Code R. § 20.6.4).
Water reuse for consumption by livestock approved for use in New Mexico
NMED (2007) defines the following approved reuse applications related to consumption by livestock:
- Livestock watering (Class 2)
Water reuse treatment category for consumption by livestock
In New Mexico, reclaimed water is defined as “domestic wastewater that has been treated to the specified levels for the defined uses set forth in this guidance document and other applicable local, state, or federal regulations” (NMED, 2007). Domestic wastewater is defined as “wastewater containing human excreta and water-carried waste from typical residential plumbing fixtures and activities, including but not limited to wastes from toilets, sinks, bath fixtures, clothes or dishwashing machines and floor drains” (NMED, 2007). The various classes of reclaimed water treatment are defined by their respective treatment requirements and applicable performance standards. The respective treatment requirements for water reuse for consumption by livestock are briefly summarized:
- Class 2 reclaimed wastewater is suitable for purposes in which public access and exposure is restricted. It requires a minimum of conventional secondary wastewater treatment plus disinfection. New Mexico does not require a specific type of disinfection, only that it achieves the specifications outlined in the table, but chlorination, UV and retention time are common approaches utilized by permittees.
Additional context and definitions
New Mexico defines water reuse for consumption by livestock as “the use of a surface water of the state as a supply of water for consumption by livestock” (N.M. Code R. § 20.6.4).
New Mexico requires all municipal reclaimed wastewater piping, valves and outlets to be colored purple to differentiate it from piping or fixtures used for potable or other water (NMED 2007). Reclaimed wastewater systems should have no indirect or direct cross connections with potable water systems. Signs in English and Spanish stating “NOTICE – THIS AREA IS IRRIGATED WITH RECLAIMED WASTEWATER – DO NOT DRINK” must be placed at the entrance to areas receiving reclaimed wastewater and other locations where public access may occur.
Water reuse for consumption by livestock specifications
Summary of New Mexico's Water Reuse for Consumption by Livestock
| Recycled Water Class/Category | Source Water Type | Water Quality Parameter | Specification | Sampling/Monitoring Requirements (Frequency of monitoring; site/ location of sample; quantification methods)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Class 2 Reclaimed Water (Livestock watering) |
Domestic wastewater |
5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) |
30 mg/L (30-day average) 45 mg/L (single sample maximum) |
Minimum of 6-hour composite and 1 test per week for major WWTPa; Grab sample and 1 test per month for minor WWTP |
|
Total suspended solids (TSS) |
30 mg/L (30-day average) 45 mg/L (single sample maximum) |
|||
|
Fecal coliformb |
200 organisms/100 mL (30-day average) 400 organisms/100 mL (single sample maximum) |
Grab sample at peak hourly flow; 1 test per week for major WWTPa; 1 test per month for minor WWTP |
||
|
Total residual chlorine (TRC) or UV transmissivity |
None, monitor only |
Grab sample or reading at peak hourly flow; Record values at peak hourly flow when fecal coliform samples are collected |
Source= NMED (2007)
* 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 A “major” WWTP has a maximum design capacity of 1 million gallons or more per day. A “minor” WWTP has a maximum design capacity of less than 1 million gallons per day.
bE. coli may be used in place of fecal coliform as an indicator organism once an equivalency has been established.
Upcoming state law or policy
NMED has proposed supplemental requirements for water reuse (20.6.8 NMAC) including produced water and will accept public comment through December 1, 2023.
References
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.
EPA-Administered Permit Programs: The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), 40 C.F.R. part 122.
New Mexico Environment Department (NMED). 2007. Ground water quality bureau guidance: Above-ground use of reclaimed domestic wastewater, New Mexico Environment Department. 2007.
Standards for Interstate and Intrastate Surface Waters, N.M. Code R. § 20.6.4.
Please contact us at [email protected] 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.