Websites

Building and Plumbing Codesrld@state.nm.us(NM Regulation & Licensing Dept.)

Gray Water Usewww.nmenv.state.nm.us

www.watercasa.org

Rainwater Harvestingwww.twdb.state.tx.us

www.arcsa-usa.org

Water Conservationwww.ose.state.nm.us

www.owue.water.ca.gov

www.waterwiser.org

www.h2ouse.org

Water Quality www.nmenv.state.nm.us

Water Rightswww.ose.state.nm.us

Phone Numbers

New Mexico ConstructionIndustries Division(505) 827-7030

New Mexico EnvironmentDepartment

NMED Ground WaterQuality Bureau (505) 827-2900(for discharge of more than2,000 gallons per day)

NMED Field Operations(for discharge of less than2,000 gallons per day)

District 1Albuquerque (505) 841-9450 Farmington (505) 327-9851 Gallup (505) 722-4160 Grants (505) 287-8845 Los Lunas (505) 841-5280 Rio Rancho (505) 892-4483 Socorro (505) 835-1287

District 2Santa Fe (505) 827-1840 Espanola (505) 753-7256 Las Vegas (505) 425-6764 Raton (505) 445-3621 Taos (505) 758-8808

District 3 Las Cruces (505) 524-6300 Alamogordo (505) 437-7115Deming (505) 546-7559Silver City (505) 388-1934

District 4 Roswell (505) 624-6046 Carlsbad (505) 885-9023 Clovis (505) 762-3728 Hobbs (505) 393-4302 Ruidoso (505) 258-3272 Tucumcari (505) 461-1671

New Mexico Office of theState EngineerSanta Fe (505) 827-6120Albuquerque (505) 764-3888Roswell (505) 622-6521Deming (505) 546-2851Las Cruces (505) 524-6161Aztec (505) 334-9481,

ext. 261

This brochure was prepared througha joint effort by the New MexicoEnvironment Department, NewMexico Construction IndustriesDivision, and New Mexico Officeof the State Engineer, with the helpof representatives from the buildingindustry and local governmentalorganizations.

The following organizations madecontributions to fund the printingof this brochure: Santa Fe AreaHomebuilders Association; NewMexico Office of the State Engineer;New Mexico Energy, Minerals andNatural Resources Department;Sunsilk Landscaping; Raincapture,Inc.; Sierra Club; Jemez y SangreWater Planning Council; andEarthwrights Designs.

For More Information …

For more information or for additional copies of this brochure, contact:The New Mexico Office of the State Engineer

P.O. Box 25102 • Santa Fe, NM 87504-51021-800-WATER-NM; www.ose.state.nm.us

Water Reusein New

Developments

Introduction

This brochure provides infor-mation about the use of har-

vested rainwater and the reuse ofwastewater to offset the use ofpotable water supplies in subdi-visions and commercial develop-ments. It is intended to providebasic regulatory requirementsand contact information tobuilders, developers, localgovernmental officials, andothers. However, the informationin this brochure does not applyto single-family residences.

AlternateWater Sources

There are four sources of waterthat may be used to offset the

use of potable water supplies:

• Harvested Rainwater – watercollected from hard surfacessuch as roofs, patios, andparking lots

• Gray Water – wastewater frombathtubs, showers, washbasins,or clothes washing machines

• Black Water – wastewater fromtoilets, urinals, kitchen sinks,dishwashers or laundry waterfrom the washing of materialsoiled with human excreta,such as diapers

• Reclaimed Water – any type ofwater that has undergone terti-ary treatment

Benefits ofHarvestedRainwater &Reuse ofWastewater

There are many benefits tousing non-potable water for

specific jobs and functions.

Using harvested rainwater andreused wastewater:

• Provides an additional sourceof water for landscape

irrigation. If treatedproperly, harvestedrainwater andreused waste-water aresuitable forsomeindoor uses,such astoilet flush-ing, fire pro-tection, andindoor plantirrigation.

• Reduces waterdemands onmunicipal watersystems, which wouldotherwise need to providepotable water for thesepurposes.

• Benefits homeowners, businessowners, and facility managersby reducing the amount ofmoney they pay for munici-pally supplied potable waterand by providing a secondarysupply of water that is depend-able and accessible even dur-ing most drought restrictions.

• Reduces water rights that needto be purchased. Because waterreuse systems furnish water forcertain needs that have tradi-tionally been supplied by freshwater, developers who incor-porate water reuse into theirprojects are able to purchasefewer water rights.

• Offers low-cost water alter-natives. Depending upon thecomplexity of the water reusesystem and the cost of potablewater, the costs of reuseoptions can be paid back in arelatively short period of time.

Working WithRegulatoryAgencies

D epending upon the type ofwater used and location

(indoors or outdoors), a projectmanager may need to obtainpermits or approvals fromcertain state and local govern-mental agencies in order to reuse

water. Following is a list of theappropriate agencies and descriptions of the types of usesthat they regulate.

New Mexico EnvironmentDepartment (NMED) –Regulates all uses of gray waterand black water to ensure protec-tion of public health and waterquality. (Use of harvested rain-water does not require NMED regu-lation.) Different regulations willapply depending on the volume,measured in gallons per day(gpd), discharged to a single lot.The gray water guide and permitapplications described below areposted on the NMED web pageat www.nmenv.state.nm.us.

Less Than 250 gpd of GrayWater – A permit is not requiredto apply less than 250 gpd ofprivate residential gray water forthe resident’s household garden-ing, composting or landscapeirrigation, as long as the graywater is applied in accordancewith certain requirementsoutlined in the NMED GrayWater Irrigation Guide.

Greater Than 250 gpd of GrayWater, But Less Than 2,000 gpdof Total Combined Gray Waterand Black Water – A LiquidWaste Permit issued by theNMED Field OperationsDivision is required if more than250 gpd of gray water will beapplied and the combinedvolume of gray water and black

water discharged to a single lot isless than 2,000 gpd. Permits maybe obtained from the nearestNMED field office, which arelisted elsewhere in this brochure.

Greater Than 250 gpd of GrayWater, AND More Than 2,000gpd of Total Combined GrayWater and Black Water – ADischarge Permit issued by theNMED Ground Water QualityBureau is required if more than250 gpd of gray water will beapplied and the combinedvolume of gray water and blackwater discharged is more than2,000 gpd. Submit a Notice ofIntent to Discharge to the NMEDGround Water Quality Bureaudescribing the proposed project.If NMED determines that aDischarge Permit is required, anApplication for Discharge Permitmust be completed andsubmitted.

New Mexico ConstructionIndustries Division(NMCID) – The UniformPlumbing Code, as promulgatedby the New Mexico ConstructionIndustries Division or the localbuilding jurisdiction, providesfor two specific types of waterreuse.

Appendix G: Gray WaterSystems for Single FamilyDwellings• No special approval from

NMCID is required for graywater systems. They areinstalled using the standardplumbing and mechanicalpermits. They must conform tothe provisions of Appendix G.Gray water is for use outsidethe building; indoor use isprohibited unless the water isreclaimed according toAppendix J.

Appendix J: Reclaimed WaterSystems for Non-ResidentialBuildings

• Reclaimed water is wastewaterfrom a building that hasundergone tertiary treatmentand is returned to the buildingfor reuse. Reclaimed water maybe used in the building onlyfor the flushing of toilets, uri-nals, and trap primers. Otherindoor uses of reclaimed waterwould require a variance.

• Reclaimed water systems areintended for use only in non-residential applications due tothe need for water treatment.Reclaimed water is notapproved for use in individualresidences. However, housingdevelopments that want tobuild water treatment plantsfor water reuse can apply for acode variance. Variances wouldbe considered on a case-by-case basis under the provisionsfor alternate materials andmethods.

New Mexico Office of theState Engineer (NMOSE) –If the proposal involves a projectfor which a water right will beissued by the New Mexico Officeof the State Engineer (NMOSE),the project manager should meetwith NMOSE to discuss whetherthe water reuse project wouldaffect the water right.

City & County Agencies –Reuse proposals must be pre-sented to local governmentalagencies to ensure compliancewith local zoning ordinances.

Requirementsfor Use ofHarvestedRainwater

• For indoor use, harvestedrainwater shall meet the

standards of reclaimedwater required by theNew MexicoConstruction Industries

Division and willrequire a variance from

Appendix J if used forresidential application.

• There are currently no stategovernment requirements foroutdoor use; however, localordinances might apply.

• Developers should check withthe New Mexico Office of theState Engineer for any newrequirements regarding rainwa-ter harvesting, as that agency isin the process of developing arainwater harvesting policy.

Requirementsfor Use ofGray Water• For indoor use: gray water

shall meet the standards ofreclaimed water required bythe NMCID and will require avariance from Appendix J forresidential application; aLiquid Waste Permit orDischarge Permit is requiredby NMED.

• For outdoor use: gray waterdischarges less than 250 gpd toa single lot and in confor-mance with the NMED GrayWater Guide do not require apermit from NMED. A LiquidWaste Permit or DischargePermit is required by NMEDfor discharges of gray waterthat are more than 250 gpd.

Requirementsfor Use ofBlack Water• For indoor use: black water

shall meet the standards ofreclaimed water required bythe NMCID and will require avariance from Appendix J forresidential application. ALiquid Waste Permit orDischarge Permit is requiredby NMED.

• For outdoor use: a LiquidWaste Permit or DischargePermit is required by NMEDfor all black water discharges.